Journal for Quality in Women's Health DOI : https://doi.
org/10.
30994/jqwh.
https://jqwh.
ISSN: 2615-6660 .
2615-6644 .
Vol.
8 No 2.
September 2025.
Page 85-92
OVERVIEW OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF
TODDLERS IN THE COASTAL AREA OF BENGKULU
CITY IN 2023
Sekar Desvira Rima Rahmadani1.
Kurnia Dewiani2.
Dara Himalaya3.
Sri Nengsi Destriani4 1,2,3,4,Diploma Program in Midwifery.
University of Bengkulu.
Bengkulu City.
Indonesia Corresponding author: kdewiani@unib.
ABSTRACT
Children under the age of five .
nder-five.
are particularly vulnerable to nutritional issues, especially in coastal areas where social, cultural, economic, educational, and hygiene factors play significant roles.
The nutritional status of under-fives is influenced by several factors, including exclusive breastfeeding, maternal education and knowledge, family income, and the childAos history of infections.
Poor nutrition negatively impacts growth, leading to stunted height and weight, impaired brain development, reduced intelligence, and increased susceptibility to infections.
This study employed a descriptive analytic method with purposive sampling.
The analysis used univariate analysis to examine the frequency distribution of nutritional status and the characteristics of the children.
The results showed 8% of the children had good nutritional status, 11% were undernourished, and 3.
were severely malnourished.
In conclusion, the majority of children in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City were found to have good nutritional status.
Keywords: Factors.
Nutrition.
Under-fives Journal for Quality in Women's Health | 85 Journal for Quality in Women's Health (JQWH ) INTRODUCTION Coastal areas are transitional zones between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, influenced by changes on both land and sea (Marine and Fisheries Service, 2.
These areas have distinct characteristics compared to other regions, which often result in specific challenges, including nutritional Nutritional problems in coastal communities are closely related to social, cultural, economic, educational, and hygiene factors.
These issues often arise due to poverty, lack of education, and insufficient food availability.
The primary cause of malnutrition is inadequate nutrient intake, either from a lack of access to nutritious food or from the consumption of Additionally, environmental health issues can lead to infections that exacerbate Nutritional frequently begin at birth, often due to insufficient breastfeeding and unhealthy living conditions during pregnancy.
As a result, children in these areas may suffer from malnutrition, marked by symptoms such as thinness, irritability, sunken stomachs, and wrinkled skin, characteristic of marasmus (Elisa, 2.
Coastal areas are rich in fish and other marine products, which could serve as excellent sources of protein if properly However, many of these resources are sold to other regions for higher profits, often at the expense of local health.
Knowledge about nutrition remains inadequate, and the socio-economic status of families further complicates the issue.
Not all coastal residents work as fishermen.
many are employed as laborers, with much of the catch being sold to meet basic needs (Handayani, 2.
The sale of fish for economic survival is a major contributor to the nutritional issues in coastal regions, particularly affecting young children.
Under-fives, children under five years old, experience rapid growth during the first year of life, with their weight doubling by five months and tripling by their first birthday.
By the age of two, a child's weight is typically Growth slows during the preschool years, with an average annual weight gain of approximately two Nutrition is a critical factor influencing this growth, as it provides the essential nutrients required by the body.
Nutritional status refers to the bodyAos condition as a result of food intake and its utilization (Hasdianah, 2.
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Regulation No.
2 of 2020 on child anthropometric standards, nutritional status is classified by body mass index based on age (BMI/A), ranging from severely wasted .
, (Permenkes RI, 2.
The 2021 Community-Based Nutrition Recording and Reporting Application .
PPBGM) survey reported that, based on height-for-age (H/A), 0.
9% of under-fives were severely malnourished, while 4.
were moderately malnourished.
West Papua had the highest prevalence of malnutrition, while Bengkulu Province had the lowest, although the issue still requires attention to prevent future problems (Ministry of Health, 2.
In 2021, data from Bengkulu Province's e-PPBGM application showed 14% of under-fives were severely malnourished, 1.
2% were moderately malnourished, 89.
2% had normal nutritional status, 7.
32% were at risk of overweight, 67% were overweight, and 0.
47% were obese (Bengkulu Provincial Health Office.
Various factors influence the nutritional status of children, including Journal for Quality in Women's Health | 86 Journal for Quality in Women's Health (JQWH ) direct factors such as breastfeeding Exclusive breastfeeding is linked to maternal education, with better-educated mothers more likely to understand child health and proper care (Septikasari, 2.
Breastfeeding history is a significant factor in the nutritional status of children.
Previous research indicated that 94.
87% of children who were exclusively breastfed had normal nutritional status, while 62.
5% of children who were not exclusively breastfed had poor nutritional status, showing a significant correlation (Hanifah, 2.
However, a study in Manado found no significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and nutritional status, with 6% of exclusively breastfed children having good nutritional status, compared to 4% of non-exclusively breastfed children (Panese, 2.
Infectious diseases also play a role in the nutritional status of children, as they can disrupt appetite and lead to malnutrition.
Research indicated that 39.
2% of wellnourished children had no history of infections, while 33.
0% of those with infections had good nutritional status.
Among malnourished children, 19.
6% had a history of infections (Carolin, 2.
Children with a history of infections were 010 times more likely to be malnourished (Trisutrisno, 2.
Education indirectly influences a childAos nutritional status, as it affects a motherAos knowledge.
Research shows that mothers with poor knowledge are four times more likely to have undernourished children, and mothers with lower education levels are three times more likely to have undernourished children (Nurmaliza, 2.
Another study found a correlation between maternal knowledge and education, with 50% of respondents having poor knowledge due to low educational attainment (Kristiani, 2.
Economic factors, particularly family income, also affect nutritional status.
study at Peudada Public Health Center showed that low-income families had higher rates of malnutrition, with 3.
5% of respondents having severely malnourished children, 32.
9% moderately malnourished, 4% normal (Nasution, 2.
Conversely, a study in Demak found no relationship between income and nutritional status, with malnourished children from high-income families accounting for 1.
4% of cases (Afifah, 2.
Preliminary data from the 2021 Bengkulu City Health Profile revealed that there were 30,201 under-fives in Bengkulu City.
Seven public health centers are located in the coastal region, including Kampung Bali.
Pasar Ikan.
Padang Serai.
Kuala Lempuing.
Beringin Raya.
Kandang, and Penurunan health centers.
These centers face significant challenges related to child nutrition, with Kampung Bali Health Center serving 640 under-fives.
Pasar Ikan 1,046, and Penurunan 818.
Based on the above, this study aims to provide an overview of the nutritional status of under-fives in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City in 2023.
METHODS
This study employs a descriptive research design aimed at providing an overview of the nutritional status of underfives in three health centers: Kampung Bali.
Penurunan, and Pasar Ikan in Bengkulu City The population for this study includes all mothers with children aged 1-5 years in the working areas of these health centers, with a total of 2,504 under-fives.
The sampling method used is purposive sampling, which involves selecting samples based on specific criteria.
The sample size Taro Yamane/Slovin formula, resulting in a sample of 126 under-fives.
Data were Journal for Quality in Women's Health | 87 Journal for Quality in Women's Health (JQWH ) collected using a structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms.
Mothers were asked about their knowledge of nutritional status, along with details regarding their child's health and breastfeeding history.
Anthropometric measurements .
eight and weigh.
of the under-fives were taken using:
A height or length measurement tool .
easuring tap.
A weight measurement tool .
Writing materials .
ooks, pen.
A smartphone for data entry.
Univariate analysis was conducted to describe the distribution of key variables:
motherAos education, motherAos knowledge, parentAos income, history of infection, exclusive breastfeeding, and nutritional The results were presented in the form of frequency distribution tables.
The study was conducted in Bengkulu City, specifically in the Kampung Bali.
Pasar Ikan, and Penurunan Health Centers, from February to April 2023.
This research adhered to ethical principles and received ethical approval under reference number KEPK.
BKL/222/05/2023.
All respondents were informed about the study's objectives, and their consent was obtained before The maintained throughout the study.
RESULTS
The study was conducted at three healthcare centers in Bengkulu: Puskesmas Penurunan.
Puskesmas Kampung Bali, and Puskesmas Pasar Ikan.
Table 1.
Frequency distribution of toddler characteristics in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City, 2023 Characteristics Exclusive Breastfeeding History Yes Frequency .
Percentage (%) 82,5 % 17, 5% Infection
History Yes
Mother's Education Elementary School
81,7 %
18,3%
Middle School
High
School
Higher
Education Knowledge Good
Sufficient Poor
Income
High
Low
57,1%
34,9 %
56,3 %
32,5 %
11,1%
55,6%
44,4 %
Table 1.
outlines the frequency distribution of toddler characteristics in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City.
It reveals that 104 toddlers .
5%) received exclusive breastfeeding.
the past month, a significant number of toddlers, 103 .
7%), suffered from infectious diseases.
The mothers' education level was predominantly high school .
1%), while 34.
9% of mothers had a college education.
A minority of mothers had completed middle school or elementary school, at 4% each.
In terms of knowledge, 71 respondents .
3%) were categorized as having good knowledge, 41 .
5%) had sufficient knowledge, and 14 .
1%) had poor knowledge.
Furthermore, 55.
6% of respondents came from families with high Table 2.
Nutritional status distribution of toddlers in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City, 2023 Nutritional Status Good Nutrition Undernutritio Malnutrition Frequenc y .
Percentag e (%) Journal for Quality in Women's Health | 88 Journal for Quality in Women's Health (JQWH ) Table 2.
illustrates the nutritional status of toddlers in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City.
A total of 108 toddlers .
7%) were classified as having good nutrition, 14 .
1%) were undernourished, and 4 .
were categorized as malnourished.
DISCUSSION
Based on the results of this study, it was found that 82% of the under-fives were exclusively breastfed, while 18% were not.
This finding is consistent with previous research, where 53.
23% of under-fives were exclusively breastfed, and 46.
77% were not.
Exclusive breastfeeding plays a crucial role in a child's nutritional status, as it provides all the necessary nutrients and antibodies to protect the child from infections.
A previous study by Zulmi .
showed that children who were not exclusively breastfed had an 8-fold higher risk of experiencing poor nutritional status.
Similarly.
Septikasari .
found that children not exclusively breastfed were 2.
6 times more likely to experience malnutrition, highlighting the significant impact of breastfeeding on a child's health.
However, these findings differ from those of Maesarah .
, who argued that exclusive breastfeeding does not directly affect a child's nutritional status.
According to this perspective, adequate nutrition intake breastfeeding history, can still support healthy growth and development.
This suggests that other factors, such as food intake and overall health, also play a vital Regarding infectious diseases, 81.
8% of the children in this study had experienced an infection in the last month, while 18.
2% had Previous research reported lower infection rates, with 29.
5% of children experiencing infections.
This finding aligns with Usman .
, who found that infectious diseases do not always influence nutritional status, especially when infections are mild, and mothers respond quickly.
However, research by Trisutrisno .
showed that children with a history of infections were 2.
01 times more likely to suffer from malnutrition, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring of childrenAos In terms of maternal education, most mothers in this study had completed high school .
%), followed by college .
%), with only a small percentage having lower levels of education.
This result is similar to MaesarahAos .
findings, where 42.
1% of mothers had completed high school.
Education plays a critical role in shaping nutritional knowledge and practices, as highlighted by Nurmaliza .
, who found that mothers with lower education levels were three times more likely to have children with malnutrition.
Yazeedi .
also emphasized that parents with higher education levels tend to have healthier nutritional practices, underlining the importance of maternal education in child The study also revealed that 56% of respondents had good knowledge of nutrition, 33% had moderate knowledge, and 11% had poor knowledge.
This contrasts with previous studies, such as one by Nurmaliza .
, which found that mothers with poor nutritional knowledge were four times more likely to have malnourished Ariani .
pointed out that mothers with good knowledge provide balanced nutrition, contributing to optimal growth and development.
Therefore, improving maternal knowledge is key to addressing nutritional issues in children.
Economic status is another factor influencing nutritional status.
In this study, 6% of respondents had high household Journal for Quality in Women's Health | 89 Journal for Quality in Women's Health (JQWH ) income, while 44.
4% had low income.
Pibriyanti .
found that low-income families had a 15.
3 times greater risk of Higher income allows families to access better food and meet nutritional However, some research, such as Afifah .
, suggests that income alone does not guarantee improved nutrition, as other factors like household budgeting also influence food choices.
Families may prioritize other needs over nutrition, even with higher income, which can affect the childAos nutritional status.
Finally, the overall nutritional status of under-fives in this study showed that 85.
had good nutritional status, 11.
1% were malnourished, and 3.
2% were severely This result is consistent with research by Amalia .
, which found that 1% of under-fives had good nutritional Although the percentage of malnourished children is relatively low, it still indicates that interventions are needed to address the root causes of malnutrition, particularly in coastal areas where access to nutrition and healthcare may be limited.
In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of breastfeeding, maternal education, economic status, and knowledge in determining the nutritional status of under-fives in coastal areas of Bengkulu City.
Comprehensive strategies involving these factors are essential to improve child health and reduce malnutrition in these CONCLUSION This study concludes that the nutritional status of toddlers in the coastal areas of Bengkulu City is predominantly categorized as good, with 85.
8% of children falling into this category.
A high rate of exclusive breastfeeding was observed, with 82.
5% of toddlers receiving exclusive breastfeeding.
Over the past month, 81.
7% of toddlers experienced infectious diseases.
The mothers' educational background was dominated by those with a high school education .
1%), which aligns with the majority of mothers having good knowledge .
3%) about child nutrition.
Additionally, most families had relatively high incomes .
6%), which could influence their ability to meet their family's nutritional needs.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to express their gratitude to everyone who contributed to the completion of this research, especially Bengkulu University respondents who participated in this study.
REFERENSI