Changing of Balanced Nutrition Behavior and the Immune System during the New Normal Era of COVID-19 in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia have increased during the new normal era of COVID-19. In addition to implementing health protocols, balanced nutrition to support the immune system is essential for preventing the further impact of COVID-19 contraction. AIM: This study identified the pattern of balanced nutrition behavior before and during implementing the new normal concept in South Sulawesi. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of people aged 15 and above living in the province of South Sulawesi was conducted from November to December 2021 using online questionnaires. The survey was carried out through WhatsApp by spreading the link of the questionnaire. Data processing and analysis were performed by SPSS v.16.0 software. Differences in balanced nutrition patterns before and during the new normal era were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test with a significant level of 0.05. RESULTS: The study shows that the community consumption patterns were significantly declined during the implementation of the new normal concept, especially the composition of dishes (p = 0.000), animal-sourced foods (p = 0.000), vegetables (p = 0.000), fruit (p = 0.000), and milk (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the new normal behavior reduced public awareness in consuming balanced nutrition in South Sulawesi. Thereby, it might be contributing to a decrease in the immune system.