Relation of Food Consumption and Nutritional Adequacy to Nutritional Status of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Nutritional problems in children with cerebral palsy (CP) may occur due to inadequate dietary intake. This study aimed to identify food consumption and nutritional adequacy in relation to the nutritional status. This study used a cross-sectional design which was conducted in Special Schools at Jakarta, Depok and Bogor.The subjects were selected by purposive sampling, i.e., CP children aged 5-18 years. The data collected included the subjects’ characteristics through questionnaires, food consumption by 1x24-hour food record method, and nutritional status assessed from body mass index (BMI)-for-age. The results of this study showed that about 45% of CP children were 6-12 years old and there were more boys than girls. Approximately 65% of CP children had eating frequency of three times a day with a protein adequacy level of 81,1%. There were 64,4% of CP children with thin nutritional status. Zinc and vitamin C adequacy levels had significant associations with nutritional status.