The Effects of Multiple-Nutrients Fortified Biscuits and/or Psychosocial Parenting Education Intervention Programs on Anthropometric and Cognitive Measures of Toddlers.

Poor nutritional status or stunting still becomes a public health problem in Indonesia, with prevalence of 37.2% in 2013. Some research results show that stunted children have lower cognitive development than normal children. This study aims to assess whether there is an effect of giving multiple-nutrient biscuits and psychosocial parenting education on height and development of children under the age of three (toddlers). This study used quasi experimental design. The treatment was given for 2 mo to 28 stunted children who were divided into 3 groups, namely: (1) multiple-nutrient biscuits (2) psychosocial parenting education (3) multiple-nutrient biscuits and psychosocial parenting education. Multiple-nutrients biscuit was given 12 pieces a day for 2 mo. Meanwhile, psychosocial parenting education was given direcly by psychologist in the form of lectures, brainstorming and role play. In order to identify the effect of treatment on children's height and development, the data obtained was analyzed using paired t-test, while the analysis of differences between treatment groups was carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that giving psychosocial parenting education significantly increased height, children's nutritional status based on height by age index, and improved cognitive development among toddlers. Giving multiple-nutrient biscuits and psychosocial parenting education significantly increased height and cognitive development among toddlers. In order to overcome children's growth and development problem, nutrition interventions need to be carried out along with the provision of education about maternal parenting to children.