Improved nutrition knowledge and practice through intensive nutrition education: a study among caregivers of mildly wasted children on Nias Island, Indonesia.
BACKGROUND
Inappropriate nutrition knowledge and feeding practices of caregivers are among several important causes of persistent malnutrition problems in young children. Thus, it is essential to provide caregivers with the necessary knowledge to help them modify their feeding practices.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of two different nutrition education methods, weekly intensive nutrition education (INE) and monthly nonintensive nutrition education (NNE), designed for caregivers of mildly wasted children (weight-for-height z-score ≥ -1.5 to < -1) aged ≥ 6 to < 60 months on Nias Island, Indonesia.


METHODS
To assess the impact of the two different nutrition education approaches on nutrition knowledge and practice of caregivers with their children, respondents were assigned to receive either weekly INE (n=114) or monthly NNE (n=96). The knowledge and practice levels of the mothers in each group were assessed and compared using a pretested validated questionnaire at admission and after the intervention period.


RESULTS
At admission, the knowledge and practice levels of caregivers in both groups were not statistically significantly different. After participating in the nutrition education program, the percentage of correct answers on nutrition knowledge and practice in the INE group was significantly higher than that in the NNE group. Significant improvement in knowledge and practice scores was observed in the INE group after the intervention (p < 0.001), whereas only a significant improvement in knowledge was found in the NNE group (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with NNE, the INE approach was significantly better in bringing about a positive change in knowledge and practice of caregivers of mildly wasted children in the study area.
University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
Dyah Ayu
DA
Inayati
Veronika
V
Scherbaum
Ratna Chrismiari
RC
Purwestri
Nia Novita
NN
Wirawan
Julia
J
Suryantan
Susan
S
Hartono
Maurice Alexander
MA
Bloem
Rosnani Verba
RV
Pangaribuan
Hans Konrad
HK
Biesalski
Volker
V
Hoffmann
Anne Camilla
AC
Bellows
D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012423:Rural Health / Q000208:ethnology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology