Overview of Nutritional Underweight Problems in Children Aged 6–59 Months in North Moyo District, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara in 2019

Abstract

Objective: Malnutrition is a public health problem that occurs in the Sumbawa Regency, especially in North Moyo district, West Nusa Tenggara. The condition is usually found in children under-five years of age because it affects cognitive and physical development and contributes to morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to illustrate the problem of underweight nutrition in children aged 6–59 months in North Moyo district, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. Methods: The present study used a cross-sectional design and used primary data. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-Square test to identify the factors associated with underweight nutritional status among children. Statistical test results were stated significant if the p-value was less than 0.1. There were 406 children aged 6–59 months as a sample in North Moyo district, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. Conclusion: The prevalence of underweight among children aged 6–59 months was 24.9% where some significant variables with underweight in children were low birth weight (LBW), low birth length, family members’s habit of smoking and mostly occured in the age group 24–59 months (p-value< 0.1). Efforts from the government are required to improve the nutritional programmes that focus on efforts to prepare mothers before pregnancy.

Keywords: birth weight, children, malnutrition, smoking, underweight

Cite this Article

Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Ririn Akmal Sari. Overview of Nutritional Underweight Problems in Children Aged 6–59 Months in North Moyo District, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara in 2019. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Health Professions. 2020; 10(1): 14–18p.