Acceso usuarios
Joyeti Darni
, Sri Yunita, Retno Wahyuningsih, Yuli Laraeni
Background: Malnutrition and stunting remain significant public health issues in Indonesia, with national stunting prevalence at 19.8%. Coastal communities face distinct challenges, including unstable income, limited access to diverse foods, and reliance on fisheries, which may compromise child nutrition. This study investigated the relationship between food security and nutrient adequacy among households with children under five in coastal areas.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 344 households with children aged 6–59 months in coastal areas. Data were collected using validated instruments: Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), and Food Consumption Score (FCS). Nutritional adequacy was assessed through dietary intake and anthropometric measurements. Data processing employed Microsoft Excel 2019 and IBM SPSS version 26.0. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman’s test.
Results: Nutritional status based on height-for-age indicated 75.0% normal, 16.9% stunted, and 4.1% severely stunted children. Mean protein adequacy was high (123.9±34.7%), while fat adequacy was low (67.0±19.4%), with more than half experiencing deficits. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium, exceeded 50%. Food security assessment showed 50.3% of households were food secure. HDDS was positively correlated with energy, protein, carbohydrate, and micronutrient adequacy. FCS correlated significantly with fat, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium adequacy. HFIAS scores were associated with energy, macronutrients, and iron adequacy.
Conclusions: Household food security strongly influences nutrient adequacy among coastal children under five. Enhancing dietary diversity, improving food access, and strengthening nutrition education are essential strategies to support optimal growth and reduce stunting in vulnerable communities.
