Study of the knowledge, attitude and practice between the mothers/caretakers of the recipients and non-recipients of the rehabilition program for undernourished children in Kuching Division, Sarawak

The main macronutrient deficiency problem among Malaysian children is protein and energy malnutrition, which is manifested in children being underweight for their age. The Rehabilitation Program for Undernourished Children (Program Pemulihan Kanak-Kanak Kekurangan Zat Makanan, PPKZM), is the government's effort to improve health and nutritional status of children aged less than six years. It was implemented by the Ministry of Health from 1989 till now. It was then an immediate strategy to rehabilitate 12,690 undernourished children detected through the Nutrition Surveillance System in 1988. In this program, children who met the eligibility criteria were given food aid to help them obtain a balanced and nutritious food, in order to achieve optimal physical and mental development. A cross-sectional study was done among the mothers/caretakers of beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries of the PPKZM program to determine their socio-demographic characteristics and to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on child nutrition in the Kuching Division, Sarawak. The total respondents were 153. Majority of the respondents were in the 30-34 age group; they were mostly Bidayuhs and Christians. Most of them attended until secondary school. Nearly all of them were housewives. A high percentage (51.0 %) of them had a family size of 3-4 persons and less than 3 children. Majority of the respondents had good knowledge and good practice regarding child nutrition, but there was no statistically significant differepce in knowledge and practice between the mothers/caretakers of the PPKZM recipients and non-recipients. Most of the respondents had good attitude regarding child nutrition. There was a statistically significant difference in attitude between the mothers/caretakers of the PPKZM recipients and non-recipients (p