PENDAMPINGAN IBU BAYI DAN BALITA DENGAN GIZI KURANG

Abstract

Malnutrition in toddlers remains a public health problem in Indonesia, impacting physical growth and cognitive development, and increasing the risk of illness and death in children. Parents' limited knowledge regarding balanced nutrition, parenting practices, and growth monitoring are contributing factors to malnutrition in toddlers. Therefore, ongoing support efforts are needed to support families in improving the nutritional status of toddlers. This community service activity aims to improve parents' knowledge and skills in meeting the nutritional needs of toddlers and assist families in improving the nutritional status of toddlers experiencing malnutrition. The community service activity is implemented through an educational approach and support for families with toddlers with malnutrition. The methods used include identifying the nutritional status of toddlers through anthropometric measurements, counseling on balanced nutrition and the provision of supplementary feeding (PMT), demonstrations on preparing healthy menus appropriate to the toddler's age, and regular support and monitoring throughout the program. Evaluation is carried out by measuring the increase in parental knowledge and monitoring changes in the nutritional status of toddlers. The implementation of the activity shows an increase in parental knowledge and understanding of the importance of providing balanced nutrition for toddlers. Parents become more skilled at creating nutritious menus, providing age-appropriate foods, and regularly monitoring their children's growth through weighing and measuring. Supporting toddlers with malnutrition through education, growth monitoring, and family empowerment is effective in increasing parental knowledge and supporting improvements in toddlers' nutritional status.

Keywords: support, toddlers, malnutrition, nutritional status, health education, family empowerment