Energy Intake as the Dominant Factor Associated with Wasting among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Pagedangan, Tangerang District

Abstract

Wasting measured by weight-for-height indices is the malnutrition characterized by a rapid deterioration in nutritional status over a short time. Based on Basic Health Research Data 2018, the proportion of children under two years who were wasting in Indonesia and Banten was 11.7% dan 13.1%. This study aimed to determine the dominant factor associated with wasting among children aged 6-23 months in Pagedangan, Tangerang District. Cross-sectional designs were used to conduct this study. Data were collected in April-Mei 2019 using anthropometric measurements and questionnaire interviews. Data were analyzed using univariate, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression. This study showed that the proportion of wasting was 17.0%. Of 153 children aged 6-23 months, 7.8% were born with low birth weight, 44.4% had a history of infectious disease, and 32.0% had a deficit of energy. The proportion of children who had un-met the minimum dietary diversity, the minimum meal frequency, the minimum acceptable diet was 43.1%, 15.7%, and 52.9%. The history of infectious disease (OR 2.930, 95% CI 1.173-7.323) and inadequate energy intake (OR 5.785, 95% CI 1.269-26.382) were significantly associated with wasting. Inadequate energy intake was the dominant factor of wasting among children aged 6-23 months in Pagedangan, Tangerang District.