KNOWLEDGE OF BALANCED NUTRITIONON MOTHERS EFECTED TO NUTRITION STATUS ON TODDLER

Many factors cause malnutrition in toddler, both direct factors and indirect factors. Knowledge is an indirect factors. Knowledge of balanced nutrition has an important role because it has an impact on the ability of mothers in serving food for their babies (toddlers). This study aims to determine the relationship of knowledge about balanced nutrition and nutrition status of toddler. This study used a design of descriptive correlation.The population is all women have a toddler in the Health Center of Sukorejo, Ponorogo regency. The numbers of 104 samples were taken from 5 villages in Health Center of Sukorejo.Sampling technique is purposive sampling. The data analysis by chi –square has a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.The results of this study got the p value of 0.023 which means the knowledge associated by the nutrition status of toddler. The demographic data of age and education do not have a relationship to the nutrition status of toddler. Mothers’ occupation has a relationship to the nutrition status of toddler with p value of 0.031. Knowledge is the initial key occurred nutrition problems of toddler because it affects behavior and daily habits in serving food. Mothers who have poor knowledge about food has a content of balanced nutrient will have a habit of serving food incorrectly to their toddler.