The influential factors of stunting in toddlers of Cianjur regency

Background: Nutritional problems had become the major problem for many developing countries such as in Indonesia. One of nutritional problems that brought high concern to date is stunting problem. Result from 2021 Indonesian nutritional status study stated the stunting prevalence of toddlers in Indonesia was 24.4%, where Cianjur regency as one example of regencies in West Java has fairly high stunting rate (33.7%). Methods: This study is applying a cross-sectional design. The research was conducted in May-July 2022 in Cianjur regency. As subjects of this study were 24-59 months toddlers who were selected by a method of clustered sampling. The research data was collected by questionnaires and a direct measurement method. Then, data analysis was conducted by Chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: The result showed the prevalence number of stunting in Warungkondang district, Cianjur regency was 40.70%, with influencial factors were the birth weight (p=0.012), history of: cough (p=0.050), fever (p=0.037), diarrhea (p=0.040) during the last 3 months, the mother’s knowledge level (p=0.050), the food diversity (p=0.048) and the health care pattern (p=0.004). Conclusions: There are several influential factors to stunting problem such as birth weight, history of infectious diseases, the level of mother’s nutritional knowledge, the food diversity and health care patterns. For the most dominant factors that influence stunting are mother’s nutritional knowledge and the birth weight of the baby. It indicates the causes of stunting are not only triggered by health factors. Therefore, collaboration with various stakeholders is needed to overcome the stunting problem.

Variabilidad en el patrón de consumo de alimentos en una población de preescolares de Asunción, de nivel socioeconómico alto y su relación con el estado nutricional / The variability in feeding patterns of pre-schoolers living in Asunción, from families with high socioeconomic status and the relation with their nutritional status

Introducción: La diversidad alimentaria constituye una medida cualitativa del consumo de alimentos, tiene una asociación positiva con la calidad de la dieta y es un factor importante para alcanzar los requerimientos nutricionales. Objetivo: Evaluar la variabilidad en el patrón de consumo de los alimentos de niños pre escolares residentes en Asunción, de condición socioeconómica alta y su relación con el estado nutricional. Metodología: Diseño observacional, trasversal, cualitativo. Se realizó la evaluación de niños prescolares de 2-6 años de nivel socio económico alto de Asunción, de setiembre a octubre de 2014 mediante medición antropométrica y con dos encuestas: una de datos demográficos y otra con la lista de todos los alimentos disponibles en el mercado, mediante entrevista directa. Se evaluó estado nutricional y su relación con la diversidad alimentaria. Se utilizó medidas de frecuencia y el programa Anthro 3.2 de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Resultados: Se estudiaron 67 niños, con predominó del sexo femenino. El 89,5 % de madres tuvo estudios terciarios concluidos. Se encontraban eutróficos (63% de los niños) y 31,5 % con malnutrición por exceso (sobrepeso y obesidad) Un 19% presentó riesgo de talla baja y el 1,5% talla baja. Se hallaron un total de 172 tipos de alimentos que se distribuyeron en 9 grupos, la media de número de alimentos consumidos por los niños pre escolares fue de 69,19 (IC 95%: 63,79- 74,59). El rango mínimo fue de 28 alimentos y el máximo 126 alimentos. No se encontró diferencias significativas con el Índice de Masa Corporal y la diversidad alimentaria; sin embargo la relación fue estadísticamente significativa entre diversidad de la alimentación y la talla alta. Conclusión: Se constató que existe poca variabilidad en el consumo de alimentos de niños pre escolares sin restricción socio económica. Se encontró relación significativa entre diversidad Alimentaria y la talla del niño

Introduction: Food diversity can be used to measure the quality of the feeding habits. It has a positive association with diet quality and constitutes an important factor to reach the nutritional requirements. Objectives: Assess the variability in feeding patterns of pre-schoolers living in Asunción, from families with high socioeconomic status and the relation with their nutritional status. Methodology: Observational, transversal in time, qualitative study. The researchers evaluated children from 2-6 years of age, from families with high socioeconomic status living in Asunción, from September to October of 2014, using antromopetric measures and two questionnaires applied in direct interview format: the first one with demographic data and the second one with a list of locally available food. The nutritional status and its relation with food diversity were assessed, measuring frequency. World's Health Organization's Software Anthro 3.2 was used for anthropometric evaluation. Results: In total, 67 children were included in the study, mainly female. 89,5% of the patient's mother had concluded tertiary education. 63% of patients were well-nourished and 31,5% had excess weight (overweight and obese). 19% were in risk of stumpting and 1,5% were in the range of stumpting. A total of 172 food varieties were found, distributed in 9 groups, the mean quantity of food varieties consumed by children was of 69,19 (CI: 95%, 63,79-74,59), ranging from 28 to 126 food varieties. Significant differences were not found in Body Mass Index and food diversity; but a statistically significant relation was found between food diversity and height. Conclusion: Low variability in feeding patterns was found in children with high socioeconomic status. There was a significant relation between food diversity and the child's height

Study on the snack menu pattern, food diversity and satisfaction of parent provided by Center for Children's Foodservice Management in Jeonbuk area / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the menu pattern, food diversity, and satisfaction of parents with the snack menus of childcare centers provided by the Center for Children's Foodservice Management (CCFM) in Jeonbuk area. METHODS: Data from 2,432 snack menus (1,321 for morning snacks and 1,111 for afternoon snacks) of March, June, September, and December 2017 from 13 CCFM in Jeonbuk area were analyzed. In addition, the participants for the survey were 247 parents in Jeonju and Kunsan. The data were analyzed using a t-test, χ²-test, and hierarchical regression analysis with SPSS v. 24.0. RESULTS: Differences in the menu pattern and food diversity were observed between morning and afternoon snack menus. The majority of snack menus (61.6%) were one menu item. The percentage of ‘G’ (20.0%) was highest in the food group patterns. The morning snacks served mainly porridge, raw fruits, and milk, and the afternoon snacks served mainly flour-based foods, juices, and milk. The awareness level of parents about the snack menus of daycare centers was 4.09±0.82, and its overall satisfaction was 4.06±0.69. In the snack-quality attribute analysis, the hygiene of foods was the most important factor, and parents judged that they were doing well. Regression analysis showed that the hygiene of personnel was the most influential variable on the overall satisfaction, followed by balance with the main meal and the portion size. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it is important to establish snack menu guidelines considering the eating behaviors of the children and to strengthen hygiene for the increasing the satisfaction of various stakeholders in daycare centers.

Food security experiences of displaced North Korean households

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food shortage situation in North Korea has gained much interest, however food insecurity caused by the food shortage in North Korean households has not been much investigated. This study examined food security experiences and food consumption pattern of displaced North Korean households currently living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Food security experience among 51 North Korean households living in South Korea was examined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) in three time points: immediately before childbirth, immediately before leaving North Korea, and immediately before entering South Korea. Meal/snack consumption frequencies and food diversity were also examined. RESULTS: Food security situation was the worst at the time of immediately before leaving North Korea with the average HFIAS score of 10.05. The households that were food insecure, they tended to be "severely" insecure. Although majority of the subjects reported having three or more meals a day, food diversity in their diet was very low with the average food diversity score of 2.17 immediately before childbirth and 1.74 immediately before leaving North Korea. Their diet appeared to heavily rely on grain and vegetable. CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of few that specifically examined food security of North Korean households with a pre-developed scale, and that demonstrated food security situation at different time points in quantified terms. Replicating this study with different groups of North Korean households for different time points would allow more complete understanding of impacts of food shortage. Food diversity score could provide a good way to examine changes of food consumption occurring to North Koreans in the process of adaptation. More attention to the changes occurring during adaption to South Korea should be given to understand the process and impact and to prepare public nutrition policy for the re-unified Korea.

Menu pattern and food diversity of snack menus provided by Child Care Information Centers in Seoul / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted for analysis of menu pattern and food diversity of snack menus of child care centers in order to provide preliminary data for establishment of related guidelines for snack menus for child care centers. METHODS: Data from 630 snack menus (350 for morning snacks and 280 for afternoon snacks) of March, 2013 from 14 Child Care Information Centers in Seoul provided for child care centers were analyzed. In addition, the menu pattern and food diversity of morning snack menus were compared with those of afternoon snack menus. RESULTS: Differences in menu pattern and food diversity were observed between morning and afternoon snack menus. The majority of snack menus (66.8%) included two menu items and the numbers of menu items of afternoon snack menus were significantly larger than those of morning snack menus. The percentages of "Grains (G)" and "Grains (G) + Milk (D)" patterns were higher in snack menu (G: 18.9%, G+D: 17.1%). Approximately one third of snack menus were composed of only one food group. In addition, 45.6 % of all snack menus comprised milk and only 23.0% included fruits. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated the need for improvement in food composition and diversity of snack menus provided by Child Care Information Centers for child care centers. Therefore, to ensure children's intake of nutritionally balanced snacks, it will be necessary to establish more detailed guidelines for the menu pattern and food composition in snack menus for child care centers.

Evaluation of elementary school lunch menus (1) : based on food diversity

The sound dietary habit is formed in childhood, which is basic foundation for keeping health. The school foodservice is practiced to provide proper nutritions, to establish the sound dietary habit. Continuous evaluation and improvement are necessary to operate school foodservice effectively. This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of meals served in elementary school based on nutrient content, food diversity. A questionnaire was mailed to dietitian of each school requested for menus of one week. Menus served in 77 schools from each province and major cities in Korea were analyzed. The results of this study were summarized as follows; Compared to 1/3 of RDA for children, many schools provide lower amounts of energy, calcium and Vitamin A. Proportions of energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat were 59.64%, 17.43% and 20.11%, respectively and were not significantly different by the area, the foodservice system, and the number of persons served. NAR(nutrient adequacy ratio) were lowest for calcium(0.67) and Vitamin A(0.65). MAR(mean adequacy ratio) was 0.83. The results of comparison of NAR and MAR by the area, the foodservice system, and the number of persons served were similar to those of nutrient contents. Comparing foods served by the nutrient density were different by nutrient contents, NAR and MAR. Mean nutrient density per meal were higher in large cities than in small cities and rural area, in conventional than in commissary foodservice system. Mean number of dishes and food items per meal were 5.86 and 19.87, respectively. The mean of total quantity of each food group per meal was 352g. The mean of total quantity of each food group per meal were higher in small cities and rural area than in large cities, in commissary than in conventional foodservice system. This study is based only on served menus, and the evaluations of meals based on actual consumption of children are needed. These results suggest that in order to improve the quality of school food service, realistic standard should be suggested and basic study should be done continuously.