Overview Of Mothers' Knowledge About Preventing Nutritional Problems In Toddlers At The X Community Health Centre

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition in early childhood is a fundamental foundation for shaping the quality of human resources and the nation’s character in the future. The toddler period is a critical stage in which sufficient and balanced nutritional intake greatly influences optimal growth and development. In Kelurahan X, child nutrition problems remain a significant public health issue, with 19 toddlers recorded as experiencing nutritional problems at the end of 2023. The main contributing factor is the lack of maternal knowledge regarding toddler nutrition and proper feeding patterns. Objective: This study aimed to describe mothers’ knowledge regarding the prevention of nutritional problems in toddlers, including their age and educational characteristics. Methods: This descriptive study employed an accidental sampling technique, involving 103 mothers of toddlers in Kelurahan X. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed descriptively. Results: The majority of respondents (84.5%) had good knowledge, 12.6% had moderate knowledge, and 2.9% had poor knowledge. Based on characteristics, most respondents were aged 30–40 years (62.1%) and had a senior high school education (68.9%). Conclusion: Most mothers in Kelurahan X had good knowledge regarding the prevention of toddler nutritional problems, which is expected to support healthy eating patterns and prevent malnutrition. Continuous nutrition education is still needed to maintain and improve understanding, particularly among mothers with moderate or poor knowledge levels.