Combined intensive nutrition education and micronutrient powder supplementation improved nutritional status of mildly wasted children on Nias Island, Indonesia.
To assess the impact of intensive nutrition education (INE) with or without the provision of micronutrient powder (MNP) on the nutritional status of mildly wasted children in Nias, Indonesia, two groups of mildly wasted (>=-1.5 to <-1.0 WHZ) children aged >=6 to <60 months in the Church World Service (CWS) project areas were assigned by village randomization to receive INE (n=64) or INE+MNP (n=51) in a weekly program. Another two groups of mildly wasted children who were living at a clear distance from INE and INE+MNP villages were selected to receive a monthly non-intensive nutrition education program (NNE) with or without MNP (n=50 both respectively). WHZ, weight, height, haemoglobin (Hb) level, and morbidity data were assessed at admission, during the study, and at individual discharge. Children's weight gain (g/kg body weight/day) was highest in INE+MNP group (2.2±2.1), followed by INE (1.1±0.9), NNE+MNP (0.3±0.5) and NNE (0.3±0.4) group. In both MNP intervention groups (INE+MNP, NNE+MNP), supplements significantly increased Hb value (g/L) of respective children (10.0±10.0; p<0.001 and 3.0±8.0; p<0.05 respectively). Proportion of children who reached discharge criterion was highest among the INE+MNP (70.6%; n=36), followed by INE (64.1%; n=41), NNE+MNP (26.0%; n=13), and NNE (20.0%; n=10) groups (p<0.001). Shortest length of stay until recovery was observed among children in the INE+MNP group (29.9 days), followed by INE (40.0 days), NNE+MNP (80.6 days), and NNE (86.2 days) respectively (p<0.001). Weekly intensive nutrition education supported by MNP supplementation produced the best results regarding weight gain and haemoglobin status of mildly wasted children.
Institute for Social Sciences in Agriculture, Center of Gender and Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Schloss, Museumsfluegel, Stuttgart-Germany.
Dyah A
DA
Inayati
Veronika
V
Scherbaum
Ratna C
RC
Purwestri
Nia N
NN
Wirawan
Julia
J
Suryantan
Susan
S
Hartono
Maurice A
MA
Bloem
Rosnani V
RV
Pangaribuan
Hans K
HK
Biesalski
Volker
V
Hoffmann
Anne C
AC
Bellows
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000208:ethnology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D018977:Micronutrients