Abstract

*Fatmah H., Diva F., Dian P., Ivonne M.I., Triyanti

Underweight status may cause growth disturbance, laziness in conducting daily physical activities, and decreased intellectual capacities due to impaired brain development. The study examined the effect of tempeh-date biscuits on the nutritional status of moderate underweight children. A single blind quasi experimental pre - post study design undertaken at Depok City, West Java Province within 4 weeks. Underfives children in intervention group (n = 13), control group I (n=16), and control group II (n=18) participated in the study. Independent t-test and ANOVA used to analyze the nutritional status difference, final height and weight. Mean nutritional status and differences assessed by paired t-test. The results showed that there was a significant increase in mean weight of 1.3 ± 0.4 kg in the intervention group (p = 0.001) and of 0.4 ± 0.5 in the control group (p=0.008). Increasing mean height in the control group was higher (1.8 ± 1.7 cm) than intervention group (1.5 ± 1.7 cm). There was correlation between weight and supplementary feeding in the control and intervention groups. Nutritional status can be improved by tempeh-date biscuits.