Effectiveness of a 90-day local food-based supplementary feeding program in improving nutritional status among undernourished toddlers: A pre-experimental study

Abstrak

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this program in improving anthropometric outcomes in stunted or wasted toddlers. Methods: We conducted a pre-experimental study with a one-group pretest-posttest design without a control group in the Plupuh sub-district, Sragen District, Central Java. The sample consisted of 163 stunted or wasted toddlers enrolled in a 90-day PMT program. Nutritional status was determined using Z-scores calculated using the WHO Anthro application. Weight and length/height were measured at baseline and repeated every four weeks until the end of the 90-day intervention period. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: After the intervention, the mean weight increased by 1.53 kg and the mean height by 1.33 cm (p < 0.05). The Z-scores for weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height, and BMI-for-age improved significantly across all age groups (p < 0.05). Changes in nutritional status were observed in 50.92% of respondents based on weight-for-age measurements. The distribution curves for all the indices shifted toward the reference population. The intervention had a medium effect on weight gain (Cohen's d = 0.631) and a small effect on height gain (Cohen's d = 0.181). Conclusions: A 90-day supplementary feeding program using locally sourced foods significantly improved the weight and height of undernourished toddlers. Program sustainability requires strengthening family and community involvement through nutrition education and training in local food processing.