Risk Factors of Stunting in Children Aged 6–59 Months: A Case-Control Study in Horticulture Area

BACKGROUND: Stunting is a critical public health problem in Indonesia because it affects cognitive and physical development and contributes to child mortality. AIM: This study aims to identify risk factors for stunting in children aged 6–59 in the horticultural area. METHODS: A casecontrol study was conducted to compare previous exposure between stunted children and non-stunted children. Measurements and interviews were conducted with 160 participants (120 controls and 40 cases), including mothers or caregivers. SPSS was used for χ2 statistical analysis, multiple logistic regression, and odds ratios. RESULTS: The study identified four risk factors for stunting: children who were born short (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 17.57; 95% confident interval [CI]: 5.02–61.51), LBW (AOR = 4.35; 95% CI: 1.38–13.78), and got a low protein intake (AOR = 4.96; 95% CI: 1.22–20.26). Significantly, a relationship between stunting and access to sanitation was also found (AOR = 6.06; 95% CI: 1.25–29.35). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for stunting in children aged 6–59 are related to nutrition during pregnancy and the child’s quality of food. Nutrition interventions should emphasize improving the nutritional status of pregnant women and children and women empowering to affect access to resources and allocations for children’s nutrition.

The Role of Adequate Nutrition on Early Stages of Child Development. New Aspects of Goat Milk-Based Infant Formulas Implementation

The early stages of child development are characterized by various processes of maturation such as brain growth and development. The digestive and immune systems are developing as well at the same time. The intestinal microbiota plays significant role in the development of all organs and systems. Various disorders of microbial colonization of digestive system can negatively affect food programming processes. Nutrition type (breastfeeding or artificial) also has its own noticeable effect on early development. Breastfeeding is the “gold standard” in children’s nutrition. Modern approaches on creation of adapted formulas based on goat’s milk allow to develop its optimal composition (protein fraction for easy digestion, -palmitate, oligosaccharides, and natural nucleotides) that has positive effect on the child’s development.

Fish Nutritional Value as an Approach to Children's Nutrition

Fish is a relatively cheap and accessible source of animal protein for human consumption even in rural communities. It is critical for global food and nutrition security, and its consumption continues to increase. As a highly nutritious food, fish consumption is highly recommended for children and expectant mothers for normal growth and development. The present paper explores the nutritional value of fish as approach to nutrition in children and its benefits. The findings reveal that fish is a valuable source of essential amino acids (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that play important physiological functions for maintenance and development of fetuses, neonates, and infant brains. Therefore, it could be a valuable tool in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. However, fish and fish products are also highly susceptible to contamination by various organic and inorganic compounds that threaten public health. Particularly, heavy metals and biogenic amines (BAs) have shown adverse effects when contaminated fish is consumed, and the effects in children have been worse. Hence, while fish consumption is highly recommended for children's nutrition, the safety and quality of the product should always be checked to safeguard public health.

KiESEL - The Children’s Nutrition Survey to Record Food Consumption for the Youngest in Germany

BackgroundWith KiESEL, the Children’s Nutrition Survey to Record Food Consumption, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) collected representative food consumption data for children aged six months up to five years. KiESEL was one of five modules of KiGGS Wave2 (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents) conducted by the Robert Koch-Institute (RKI). The objective was to update the consumption data for children in Germany and to fill a data gap for the age group of five-year-old children. The study provides an up-to-date and comprehensive database that will be used for exposure assessment, as part of risk assessment of Germany’s youngest consumers. MethodsIn the years 2014 to 2017, more than 1000 children from all over Germany participated in KiESEL. During home visits, survey staff conducted a questionnaire-based interview including a food propensity questionnaire (FPQ) on seldom eaten foods and questions concerning consumption outside home, dietary habits and diet during first year. The interviewer measured the children’s height and weight. Families and childcare workers filled out a food record, covering three consecutive days and one independent day. Data are based on the FPQ and present consumption frequencies. Depending on the question, socioeconomic status (SES) and migration background were considered.Results 1104 participants had an interview and filled out the questionnaire on usual food intake, seldom eaten foods and consumption away from home. They were included in sample1. 1008 of these participants additionally reported food consumption of at least three days (sample2). 91.2 % of the children follow no special diet and 0.8 % are vegetarians. 7 % of the older children consuming soya-drink. For some foods differences in consumption across SES or migration status were noted. Children from families with higher SES consume more often soya-based substitute milk as families with lower SES (p<0.00005).ConclusionsKiESEL gathered up-to-date consumption data for more than 1000 children living in Germany, aged six month up to including five years. The data will be used for risk assessments of the BfR and provided to national and international partners.

Shifts in Sources of Food but Stable Nutritional Outcomes among Children in the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), State governments, and school districts took unprecedented steps to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on students’ nutrition. To examine the effect of emergency responses on 6-year-old children’s nutritional outcomes, this study analyzed longitudinal data from a national study of children’s feeding practices, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2 (WIC ITFPS-2). Findings include no differences in food insecurity prevalence; however, there were shifts in sources of food, with children in the post-COVID-emergency-declaration (post-ED) group consuming more dietary energy from stores and community food programs and less from restaurants and schools than children in the pre-COVID-emergency-declaration (pre-ED) group (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). Examination of within-person mean differences in 2015 Healthy Eating Index scores and nutrient intakes between ages 5 and 6 years revealed few statistically significant differences between the two groups: children in the post-ED group consumed slightly fewer vegetables (p = 0.02) and less sodium (p = 0.01) than their pre-ED peers. Findings suggest emergency efforts to maintain children’s nutrition were largely successful in the early months of the pandemic. Research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which emergency efforts contributed to these findings.

Development of recipes and technologies for the production of fish-growing products for baby food

В статье приводится краткий обзор инноваций по производству функциональных продуктов питания на основе рыбного сырья с целью установления современных тенденций их использования в детском питании. По данным статистики в России традиционно наблюдается дефицит потребляемого населением белка по причине однообразного, несбалансированного питания и низкой культуры потребления. Недостаток белка в организме неблагоприятно отражается на деятельности сердечно-сосудистой, дыхательной и нервной систем, как у детей, так и у взрослого населения. При производстве полуфабрикатов и кулинарных изделий из рыбы особую значимость приобретает совершенствование рецептур и технологий, направленных на повышение пищевой и биологической ценности, а также безопасности продуктов. Одним из способов повышения физиологической ценности белка животного происхождения является исследование по его биоусвояемости в детском организме, совершенствование органолептических показателей. К важнейшим свойствам продукции многие ученые относят доступность для различных социальных групп путем комбинирования рыбного фарша с различными растительными добавками. The article provides a brief overview of innovations in the production of functional food products based on fish raw materials in order to establish current trends in their use in children's nutrition. According to statistics, there is traditionally a shortage of protein consumed by the population in Russia, due to a monotonous, unbalanced diet, and a low consumption culture. The lack of protein in the body does not favorably affect the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory and nervous systems, both in children and in adults. In the production of semi-finished products and culinary products from fish, the improvement of recipes and technologies aimed at increasing the nutritional and biological value, as well as the safety of products, is of particular importance. One of the ways to increase the physiological value of animal protein is research on its bioavailability in the child's body, improving organoleptic indicators. Among the most important properties of the products, many scientists refer to accessibility for different social groups by combining minced fish with various plant additives.

Relationship between maternal employment status and children’s food intake in Japan

Background Although long maternal working hours are reported to have a negative effect on children’s dietary habits, few studies have investigated this issue in Japan. Healthy dietary habits in childhood are important because they may reduce the risk of future disease. Here, we examined the relationship between maternal employment status and children’s dietary intake in 1693 pairs of Japanese primary school 5th and 6th graders and their mothers. Methods The survey was conducted using two questionnaires, a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire and a lifestyle questionnaire. The analysis also considered mothers’ and children’s nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward diet, and some aspects of family environment. Results Longer maternal working hours were associated with children’s higher intake of white rice (g/1000kcal) (β 11.4, 95%CI [1.0, 21.9]; working ≥8h vs. not working), lower intake of confectioneries (g/1000kcal) (β −4.0 [−7.6, −0.4]), and higher body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) (β 0.62 [0.2, 1.0]). Although maternal employment status was not significantly associated with lower intake of healthy food (e.g., vegetables) or higher intake of unhealthy food (e.g., sweetened beverages) in the children, in contrast with previous studies, it may have affected children’s energy intake through their higher intake of white rice. Further, children’s nutrition knowledge and attitudes toward diet, mothers’ food intake, and some family environment factors were significantly associated with intakes of vegetables and sweetened beverages in the children. Conclusions Longer maternal working hours were significantly associated with higher intake of white rice and lower intake of confectioneries, as well as higher BMI among children. Even when a mother works, however, it may be possible to improve her child’s dietary intake by other means such as nutrition education for children or enhancement of food environment.

Informatization Management as a Tool to Improve Internal School Control Systems in the Russian Federation (Using Catering as an Example)

This paper presents the results from monitoring the organization of catering for children in general education institutions. Monitoring was conducted in August–September 2020. We collected relevant databases for 85 Russian subjects: the total number of indicators—113, the total number of sub-indicators—347, and the total number of data—76,414. This paper investigates the problems surrounding resource provision in regard to organizing nutrition for schoolchildren in the Russian Federation. We analyzed the structure of the informatization in regard to the provision of hot meals for schoolchildren in Russian regions. Moreover, we present cases and best practices surrounding informatization management and personalization of children’s nutrition. The research results reveal that Russia possesses a unified regional information system for accounting/monitoring the organization of children’s nutrition, as an independent specialized information resource (in regard to catering). This paper identifies the levels of information technology used in school nutritional programs for each federal district. We present the results of the analysis, the availability of information resources, and the possibility of automated non-cash payments for meals in general education institutions. Moreover, we analyzed information resources and generated reporting documents on the organization of nutrition for schoolchildren in Russia. Finally, we analyzed the automated assessment of satisfaction, in regard to catering and food quality among children and their parents in Russian regions.

Pengaruh Pendapatan Orang Tua terhadap Status Gizi Anak Usia 4-5 Tahun pada Masa Pandemi COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has occurred since the end of 2019, which impacts parents' income and the fulfilment of children's nutrition. This study aims to determine the effect of parental income on the nutritional status of children aged 4-5 years in Koja District, North Jakarta, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research method uses quantitative research with a population consisting of children aged 4-5 years in Koja District, North Jakarta. Sampling using random sampling technique, so that the respondents of this study amounted to 77 respondents. Data analysis used linear regression of 2 variables. Estimation of validity and reliability was carried out to determine the quality of the questions. The results showed that there was an effect of parental income during the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional status of children aged 4-5 years in Koja District, North Jakarta, with a significance value of 0.000 which was smaller than 0.05 and based on the significance test with the t-value formula, the result was 5.359 greater than t-table of 1.995. The coefficient value of the two variables shows a value of 0.277 or 27.7% of parental income affecting the nutritional status of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The declining income of parents in the Koja Subdistrict, North Jakarta, during the COVID-19 pandemic can affect the availability of food and the fulfilment of balanced nutrition for children every day, which impacts the nutritional status of children. This research contributes to the understanding that policymakers, in particular, need to pay serious attention to the development of children's nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic.