MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH STATUS RELATED TO NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN DURING LACTATION PERIOD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AMONG MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN AGE 0 – 6 MONTHS IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS OF INDONESIA:

Maternal and child health status (MCHS) plays an essential role in the exclusive breastfeeding practice (EBP), which in turn helps to determine the nutritional status and development of children (NSC & CD) aged 0-6 months. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors influencing EBP, NSC, and CD to MCHS in Jember, East Java, Indonesia. A family-based survey was conducted among 470 mothers with children aged 0-6 months, by using a stratified random sampling method. Furthermore, a self-administered questionnaire was used to measure the characteristics of children and mothers, MCHS, EBP, NSC (z score with weight per age= WAZ and height per age= HAZ), and CD (pre-screening developmental questionnaire=PSDQ). The prevalence of EBP was 74.7% (95% CI= 65.5 – 81.2%), with influential factors being education, family income, children's age, and distress to limitations. Also, the Z-score of WAZ and HAZ were 2.99±0.22 and 3.01±0.22, respectively (3% of underweight and 1.7% of stunting). The factors influencing WAZ were children's age, birth weight, approach, and attentional shifting. However, the factors that only influenced the HAZ was the children's age. Also, among children three months old, the score of PSDQ was 8.30±1.33 (0.8% of deviation and 56.5% of suspect development), and their influenced factors were mother's work, infant's age, and the weight of birth. Among those that were 6 months old, the PSDQ score was 8.83±1.42 (7% of deviation and 24.3% of suspect development), and their influenced factors were mainly relationship. The analysis of the result further showed that the EBP, NSC, and CD, are related to MCHS, in rural agricultural areas. Therefore, the relationship of the parent-child should function appropriately, in order to support infant growth and development during lactation.