PENGARUH PROGRAM PENDAMPINGAN GIZI TERHADAP POLA ASUH, KEJADIAN INFEKSI DAN STATUS GIZI BALITA KURANG ENERGI PROTEIN THE EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM ON CARING PATTERN, INFECTIOUS DISEASE RATES AND THE ANTHROPOMETRIC STATUS OF UNDERWEIGHT UNDERFIVE CHILDREN

Abstract

Background: Nutritional outreach program is one of the nutritional improvement programs in Sulawesi Selatan, which aimed to accelerate the reduction of underweight rates among underfive children, through family and community development. Caring pattern is one of the important factors for increasing the nutritional and health status of the underfive children. Thus, it is important to evaluate the effect of nutritional outreach program on caring pattern, infectious disease rates and the anthropometric status. Methods: This study was a quasi experiment research with a pre and post test design. The subjects were 102 of the 118 underfive children in Mangarabombang Subdistrict, Takalar District, Sulawesi Selatan, who were targeted by nutritional outreach program. The outreach program was conducted for one month. The observed variables included mother’s nutritional knowledge and caring pattern scores, infectious disease rates (diarrhea and respiratory tract infections) and the anthropometric status. These variables were measured at baseline, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after the program was started. Data were analyzed by comparing the variables at baseline and at three months after the intervention, using paired t-test, Wilcoxon’s sign rank and chi square tests. Results: After the outreach program, the mother’s nutritional knowledge and the caring pattern scores were increased from 47,8% to 73,3% (p=0,001) and from 69,4% to 81.1% (p=0,001), respectively. The rates of the infectious diseases decreased from 72,5% to 38,2% (p=0,001). The rates of underweight children decreased from 72,5% to 10,8% and PEM children were reduced from 27,5% to 8,8% (p=0,001). Conclusion: The nutritional outreach program improved mother’s nutritional knowledge and caring pattern as well as the anthropometric status of the underweight underfive children at three months after the program started. Latar Belakang : Program Pendampingan Gizi merupakan salah satu program unggulan dalam Program Perbaikan Gizi di Sulawesi Selatan yang bertujuan untuk mempercepat penurunan angka gizi kurang dan gizi buruk, melalui pemberdayaan keluarga dan masyarakat. Pola pengasuhan mempunyai peranan penting terhadap pemenuhan kebutuhan gizi dan kesehatan anak. Untuk itu penting dilakukan evaluasi terhadap pengaruh program pendampingan gizi terhadap pola asuh, kejadian infeksi dan status gizi balita KEP. Metode Penelitian : Jenis penelitian ini adalah kuasi eksperimen dengan desain penelitian Non Randomized Pre and Post Test Group. Subjek adalah 102 dari 118 balita KEP yang menjadi sasaran kegiatan Program Pendampingan Gizi pada desa miskin di Kecamatan Mangarabombang Kabupaten Takalar Sulawesi Selatan. Program Pendampingan Gizi dilaksanakan selama satu bulan. Variabel yang diamati meliputi pengetahuan gizi ibu, pola asuh, kejadian penyakit infeksi (Diare dan Infeksi Saluran Napas) dan status gizi balita KEP. Variabel diukur pada awal pendampingan serta 1 bulan, 2 bulan dan 3 bulan setelah pendampingan dimulai. Analisis data dilakukan dengan membandingkan variabel-variabel tersebut pada awal dan 3 bulan setelah pendampingan dengan menggunakan paired t-test, wilcoxon’s rank sign test, dan uji chi square. Hasil : pada akhir penelitian, skor pengetahuan gizi ibu meningkat dari 47,8% menjadi 73,3% (p=0,001) dan skor pola asuh balita meningkat dari 69,42% menjadi 81,05% (p=0,001). Kejadian penyakit infeksi menurun dari 72,5% menjadi 38,2% (p=0,001) dan balita yang menderita gizi kurang dari 72,5% menjadi 10,8%. Kejadian gizi buruk menurun dari 27,45% menjadi 8,8% (p=0,001). Simpulan : Program Pendampingan Gizi meningkatkan pengetahuan gizi ibu, pola pengasuhan, dan status gizi balita KEP pada 3 bulan setelah pendampingan dimulai.