How Maternal Nutritional Knowledge Can Improve Nutritional Status of Children?
Wawan Saepul Irwan a,b), Al Mukhlas Fikri a)
a) Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, Bogor 16680
b) Center of Development and Empowerment Teacher and Education Personnel (CDETEP) for Business and Tourism, Ministry of Education and Culture of Republic of Indonesia
Abstract
Double burden of malnutrition is still a serious health problem. While we face under-nutrition such as stunting and wasting, we are also struggling to combat obesity. The first 1000 days in life, from pregnancy until 2 years after birth, is a golden period to overcome malnutrition. This was review study to analyse the role of maternal nutritional knowledge in improving nutritional status of children. The review was conducted to the papers related to maternal nutritional knowledge and nutritional status. Since the first 1000 days in life is a targeted period of nutritional intervention, maternal nutritional knowledge has an important role in determining the diet during pregnancy and the diet of children after birth. Healthy diet during pregnancy supports fetal development. Metabolic process is programmed during this period and the programming will shape the adulthood wellbeing. In addition, maternal nutritional knowledge determines the feeding practice to the baby after birth. The nutritional adequacy of children depends on that practice. Thus, maternal nutritional knowledge is strongly associated with nutritional status of children. Educating the mothers for their nutritional knowledge may help to improve the nutritional status of children.
Keywords: Maternal nutritional knowledge, nutritional status, children
Topic: The First 1,000 Days in Life