The Impact of Zinc Administration for 3 Months on Changes in Height at the Children with Stunting at the Community Health Center in Cilongok One and Two in Banyumas District
Jihan Amalia (a*) , Sri Quintina Indriyana (b) , Rissa Anggita Putri

a) Nutrition Department Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, Cimahi, Indonesia
*jihan.amalia[at]lecture.unjani.ac.id
b) Public Health Department Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani, Cimahi, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia is ranked the 5th in the chart of countries with the highest stunting prevalence in the world. One of the measures to overcome stunting implemented by the Health Service of Banyumas district is to administer zinc supplementation for 3 months with 5mg/day dose to children of 12-59 months age who suffered from stunting. Zinc is an essential micromineral as a cofactor of more than 100 metalloenzymes. Lack of zinc intake may disturb growth. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of zinc administration for 3 months on changes in height at the children with stunting at the Community Health Center in Cilongok One and Two in Banyumas district. The study method used analytic observational design with a prospective cohort approach. The study samples, 38 respondents meeting the inclusion criteria, were taken through simple random sampling. Based on the interview with the mothers of the children with stunting, it was found that the obedience of zinc administration was 68,42%. Based on the Nutrition Status Monitoring Sheet for children, it was obtained that the average height change (Body Height) resulted after 3 months was 4,76 cm. This result exceeded the average value of additional height gain, which was 3,75 cm. The chi square analysis showed that there was an impact of 3-month zinc administration on the changes of body height of the children with stunting (p value <0,05). The decline of Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) causes growth failure, and this is found in children with stunting. The role of zinc in growth is related to the increment of IGF I plasma concentration which is important for the growth of epiphyseal plate of long bone in children under 5 years.

Keywords: Children under five years old, Stunting, Zinc

Topic: Public Health