Analysis Of Factors Related to Malnutrition Status Among Children Under The Age of Five in the Binanga Health Center's Service Area in Mamuju District

Toddlers represent a demographic particularly susceptible to nutritional deficiencies, including malnutrition. Various internal and external factors influence the nutritional well-being of toddlers. This research endeavors to examine the determinants associated with undernutrition among toddlers within the Binanga Health Center's jurisdiction in Mamuju Regency. Employing an analytical observational method with a cross-sectional design, the study involved 30 malnourished toddlers as its sample, selected through purposive sampling, also known as judgmental or selective sampling. Anthropometric measurements were conducted to calculate z-scores, alongside the administration of questionnaires. Findings indicated a significant lack of knowledge regarding nutritional care for toddlers among the majority of subjects, accounting for 54% of cases. Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed a significant association between maternal nutritional knowledge and toddler malnutrition (p=0.001). Moreover, socioeconomic factors elucidated that 70% of malnourished toddlers originated from impoverished households, with a correlated relationship between family economic status and toddler malnutrition (p=0.003). Furthermore, the educational aspect revealed that 73% of subjects had limited educational attainment, showing a significant correlation between maternal education and toddler malnutrition (p=0.003). Additionally, a notable 63% of malnourished toddlers had a history of low birth weight (LBW), indicating a significant relationship between LBW history and toddler nutritional status (p=0.006) based on Spearman's rank correlation analysis.