Relationship between Mothers' Nutritional Knowledge, Feeding Practices, and Nutritional Status of Toddlers (0–59 Months of Age) in the Ikur Koto Health Center, Padang City

Abstract

Nutritional status is an important indicator in assessing the quality of child growth and development. Data from the Ikur Koto Health Center shows a high prevalence of malnutrition. This study aims to analyze the relationship between mothers' nutritional knowledge, feeding practices, and nutritional status of toddlers (0–59 months of age) based on the weight-for-height (BW/H) index. The study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 75 toddlers aged 0–59 months selected using simple random sampling. Nutritional status data were obtained through anthropometric measurements, while maternal nutritional knowledge and parenting patterns were collected using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods, with the Chi-Square test used for bivariate analysis. The results showed that the prevalence of malnutrition in toddlers was 38.7%. A total of 13.3% of mothers had low nutritional knowledge and 60% of mothers had poor parenting practices. There was a significant relationship between maternal nutritional knowledge and toddler nutritional status (p = 0.029) OR 0.022, while maternal parenting patterns were not significantly related to toddler nutritional status (p = 0.498) OR 2.10). Strengthening maternal nutritional education through integrated health posts (Posyandu) and community health centers is needed as a strategy to prevent malnutrition in toddlers.