Authors:
Muhammad Iqbal S
1
;
2
;
Kartini Hasballah
3
;
2
and
Teuku Tahlil
4
;
2
Affiliations:
1
Master Program of Nursing Science Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
;
2
Indonesia
;
3
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
;
4
Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Keyword(s):
School-agechildren, Nutritional status, Anthropometry, Nutrient adequacy ratio
Abstract:
Nutrition is one of the most common issues in several developing countries including Indonesia, which is currently facing malnutrition. Indonesian’s coastal and non-coastal areas have different environments which lead to differences in commodities and types of food affecting children's nutrition. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of school-age children based on height, bodymassindex, and nutrient adequacy ratio in coastal and non-coastal areas in Aceh. The study used a descriptive comparative research design, with a population of 226 children. A representative sample of 98 school-age children (49 from each area) was selected by using the simple random sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was the Food Recall 24 Hour. The methods employed were interview, and weight and height measurement forms. The data were analyzed by using independent sample t-test. The results indicated that there were no
differences either in nutritional status of school-age childr
en incoastal and non-coastal areas (ρ = .156), in height (ρ = .155), in body mass index (ρ = .064), or in nutrient adequacy ratio (ρ = .188). It is suggested that the Health Office pay more attention to and evaluate nutrition programs of school-age children at the puskesmas level to improve the promotion of healthy living community movement in coastal and noncoastal areas so that they are more aware of good nutrition, and also to provide training in the use of nutritious food sources within the areas.
(More)