ABSTRACT

Background: Nutrition is an essential factor in determining physical growth and mental development.

Aim: This research aims to determine the nutritional status of children under five in the work area of the Public Health Center Girimulyo II Kulon Progo.

Method: This is descriptive research with a quantitative approach.

Research Design: A total of 86 respondents aged 0-59 months were required as the subject. Sampling was conducted in 3 Posyandu (Integrated Health Care Post) using stratified random sampling from 25 Posyandu. Three posyandu with the prevalence of high nutritional status including Sumberejo Posyandu with 29 respondents, Sukomoyo Posyandu with 54 respondents and Sibolong Posyandu with 17 respondents with some criteria: mothers are domiciling in Girimulyo, having a child in the range of 0-59 months old, having KMS book, and willing to be respondents. The respondents filed the questionnaire about the socio-demographic data and maternal knowledge about balanced nutrition and anthropometric measurements. Bodyweight was done using a mechanical scale. After the informed consent was given, the weighed baby put off the sandals and wore an article of very minimum clothing. The assessment of nutritional status used the Z score with the WHO standard. If the score was at -2 to + 2 SD, the nutritional status was expected, and the rest would be in the abnormal ones (Malnutrition and overnutrition).

Results: A description of a child's nutritional status under five years old in Public Health Centre Girimulyo II based on education showed that the respondents had a low level of education at 8 (42,1%) with an abnormal nutritional status. Based on knowledge, it showed that there were 14 (77.7%) respondents with a low level of expertise with strange dietary quality, and 11 (61.1%) respondents had a low socioeconomic status with abnormal nutritional status.

Suggestion: it should increase monitoring and evaluating nutritional status regularly to a child under five.

Conclusion: low socioeconomic and knowledge factors influence the fulfillment of children's nutrition.

Keywords: Nutritional Status, a child under five