MATERNAL NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AGED 6–23 MONTHS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54832/phj.v8i2.1564Keywords:
, nutritional status, Maternal KnowledgeAbstract
Background: The first two years of life represent a critical period for child growth and development, during which adequate nutrition is essential for optimal growth and health. Maternal nutritional knowledge may influence feeding practices and contribute to children's nutritional status and developmental outcomes.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between maternal nutritional knowledge and the nutritional status and development of children aged 6–23 months.
Methods: A quantitative correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted at the Tuminting Community Health Center in Manado City. A total of 120 mothers with healthy children aged 6-23 months were selected as respondents using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using a nutritional knowledge questionnaire, standardized anthropometric measurements, and an age-specific developmental screening instrument. Data analysis was performed using chi-square.
Results: The findings indicated that the majority of mothers possessed a high level of nutritional knowledge (77.5%). Most children exhibited normal nutritional status across the weight-for-age (80.8%), length-for-age (70.0%), and weight-for-length (75.8%) indicators, with the majority also showing age-appropriate development (87.5%). A statistically significant relationship was identified between maternal nutritional knowledge and the length-for-age indicator (p = 0.013). However, no significant relationships were observed between maternal knowledge and weight-for-age (p = 0.785), weight-for-length (p = 0.364), or child development (p = 0.190).
Conclusion: Maternal nutritional knowledge was significantly associated with length-for-age, but not with weight-for-age, weight-for-length, or child development. These findings suggest that maternal nutritional knowledge may contribute to long-term linear growth, while child development is influenced by multiple factors beyond nutritional knowledge alone.
Keywords: Maternal nutritional knowledge; nutritional status; child development
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References
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