Relationship of Mother’s Knowledge on Balanced Nutrition with Malnutrition Energy Protein (Kep) Levels in Children in Jelok Cepogo Boyolali 2020

Abstract

Malnutrition is a common nutritional problem in the
world. KEP (Malnutrition Energy Protein) has become
a serious national problem during this time of crisis. A
person’s health can be seen from their nutritional status. So
that KEP does not occur, the amount of nutrients consumed
must be in accordance with the body’s needs. Toddlers are
the age group most often suffering from malnutrition. The
purpose of this study was to determine the relationship
between maternal knowledge about balanced nutrition
and the level of KEP in toddlers. This research is a cross
sectional study. The population used is all mothers who
have toddler in Jelok Village, Cepogo District, Boyolali
Regency, totaling 152 respondents. This study used simple
random sampling, with a total of 61 respondents. The
variables studied included maternal knowledge about
balanced nutrition and the level of KEP in toddlers. The
data collection instruments used questionnaires and
toddler scales, the results of which were confirmed with
the WHO-NCHS reference value. Data analysis using
Spearman Rank correlation. Of the 61 respondents who
were have children under five year old, there are 4 mothers
(6.5%) have less knowledge, 35 respondents (57.4%) have
sufficient knowledge, 22 respondents (36.1%) have good
knowledge. Meanwhile, at the KEP level, 27 children
(44.3%) had moderate KEP, 34 (55.7%) had mild KEP.
The results of the statistical test, the probability value
(p) = 0.393 > α = 0.05, the correlation value = -0.35.
This means that there is no relationship between maternal
knowledge about balanced nutrition and the level of KEP
in children under five in Jelok Village, Cepogo District,
Boyolali Regency. The conclusions from the results of this
study prove that maternal knowledge does not affect the
level of KEP in toddlers, because perhaps the level of KEP
in children under five is influenced by social, economic,
infection, and environmental factors. From the results of
this study, it is suggested that mothers who have toddler
should pay more attention to the nutritional status of their
toddlers, because nutritional problems cannot be viewed
as trivial matters. Health workers are expected to improve
the quality of health services for the toddler, especially
in relation to the incidence of malnutrition and KEP that
afflicts toddlers.