Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
03:35

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Published on: December 1, 2023

282

A case-control study to investigate determinants of undernutrition in community-dwelling children

Raden Ahmad Dedy Mardani1,2, Zuhratul Hajri2, Zurriyatun Thoyibah2

  • 1School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei City, Taiwan.

Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing : JSPN
|July 20, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Mothers' knowledge of nutrition and complementary feeding practices significantly reduces undernutrition risk in children under 2. Healthcare providers should assess and support maternal knowledge for better child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health
  • Maternal and Child Health

Background:

  • Child undernutrition remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in children under 2 years of age.
  • Understanding the determinants of undernutrition is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
  • Maternal knowledge and practices are recognized as key factors influencing child nutritional status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the factors associated with undernutrition among children under two years of age.
  • To identify specific maternal knowledge and practices that act as determinants of child undernutrition.
  • To provide evidence for targeted interventions to reduce the prevalence of undernutrition.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study involving 300 mothers (100 with undernourished children, 200 with healthy children).
  • Data collection included child demographics, maternal characteristics, household information, and maternal knowledge of nutrition and complementary feeding.
  • Conditional logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant determinants of undernutrition.

Main Results:

  • Maternal knowledge of undernutrition (AOR: 0.95) and nutrition (AOR: 0.90) were significant protective factors against child undernutrition.
  • Knowledge and behavior related to complementary feeding practices also showed a significant protective effect (AOR: 0.97).
  • All identified factors were statistically significant (p < .05), indicating their importance in preventing undernutrition.

Conclusions:

  • Enhancing maternal knowledge in undernutrition, general nutrition, and complementary feeding is vital for reducing undernutrition in children under 2.
  • Healthcare professionals should prioritize assessing and educating mothers on these critical knowledge areas.
  • Early and targeted interventions focusing on maternal education can significantly mitigate the risk of child undernutrition.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrencomplementary feeding practicenutrition knowledgeundernutrition

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.1K
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil06:48

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil

Published on: July 29, 2020

4.5K

Related Concept Videos

Study Designs in Epidemiology01:20

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...
206
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.4K
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
961
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
255
Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
57
Causality in Epidemiology01:21

Causality in Epidemiology

Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...
377