Association between Cadre Knowledge, Feeding Behaviours and Daily Intake with Changes in Nutritional Status of Undernourished Children in Kawangu Health Centre, East Sumba

摘要

Background and purpose: In 2012, in Eastern Sumba 21% of children under 5 were malnourished; at the KawanguHealth Centre (KHC) it was reported that 3.4% of children were underweight. This study was aimed to investigaterelationships between cadre knowledge, motivation and behavior of child carers with the nutritional status changes ofchildren from KHC. feeding behaviors and change in nutritional status. Data on cadre knowledge and motivation was collected through aself-administered questionnaire and through interviews conducted with child carers. Anthropometric measurementswere taken to assess changes in nutritional status of children. Analysis used univariate and bivariate chi-squared test. Results: Results indicated respondents were aged 26-35 (41.2%), had elementary school education (56.2%), werefarmers (91.2%), had experience as cadres for 2 years (53.8%), were trained (72.5%) and had been involved with theprogram less than <45 days (91.2%). About 55.0% of respondents indicated a high level of knowledge and were highlymotivated (86.2%). Carers indicated a fair behaviour change (51.2%), although there was an increase in improvement innutritional status (63.8%). There was relationship between cadre knowledge and changes in feeding behaviours(p=0.016), but not with cadre motivation (p=0.500). There was an association between feeding behavior (p=0.032) withchanges in nutritional status.