Gender Equality Practices: Comparison of Eating Habits in Families With Normal Nutrition, Malnutrition, and Stunting Toddler

Gender issues in the pattern of nutritional fulfillment for mothers/pregnant mothers and children/toddlers are one of the causes of stunting. Gender equality in terms of fulfilling the nutrition of family members is one way to overcome stunting in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the practice of gender equality in eating habits in families with normal, malnourished, and stunted under-fives. This research is an explanatory survey with a case control study design with a case study in Kemuning Lor Village. The research sample was divided into two case samples, namely 29 severely malnourished and stunted toddlers and 29 control samples (normal nutrition toddlers) obtained from a 1:1 comparison of cases with controls. The sampling technique uses quota sampling. The results of the chi square test obtained a Pearson chi square value of 6.891 with ap value of 0.032 meaning that there are differences in the practice of gender equality in eating habits in families of children under five with normal nutrition, malnutrition, and stunting. The percentage of families with normal nutritional status under five who have good gender equality practices (69%) is greater than that of families with less gender equality (31%). The percentage of families with poor nutritional status who have less gender equality practices (71.4%) is greater than families that have good gender equality (28.6%). Meanwhile, the percentage of families with stunting toddlers is more that has good gender equality practices (66.7%) compared to families that have less gender equality practices (33.3%). A suggestion is providing food according to the tastes or preferences of family members to improve eating habits.