Educational Intervention on Picky Eating Knowledge and Its Association with the Nutritional Status of Preschool Children Among Mothers in Pasheu Beutong Village, Darul Imarah District, Aceh Besar

Abstract

Nutritional problems among preschool children remain a significant concern, particularly those related to inadequate dietary intake and eating behaviour. Picky eating is one of the common issues that can affect children's nutritional status, yet many mothers have limited knowledge regarding its impact. This community-based educational activity aimed to improve mothers' knowledge about picky eating and its influence on the nutritional status of preschool children. The intervention used a pre-test and post-test design, employing questionnaires to assess knowledge levels before and after the education session. The educational method included lectures and interactive discussions. The results showed that before the intervention, participants' knowledge was mostly in the low category (18%). After the educational session, there was a marked improvement, with 81% of participants achieving a high level of knowledge. This indicates that the educational intervention was effective in increasing mothers’ understanding of picky eating and its consequences. In conclusion, the educational program significantly improved mothers’ knowledge regarding picky eating and its impact on the nutritional status of preschool children. Enhancing maternal knowledge is expected to promote better feeding practices and improve nutritional outcomes in children.