The Relationship Between Mothers' Participation Levels in Posyandu and the Nutritional Status of Children Under Five

Nutritional issues among toddlers remain a public health concern, and the monitoring of growth and early detection of nutritional problems at Posyandu (integrated healthcare posts) are influenced by the level of maternal participation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the level of maternal participation in Posyandu activities and the nutritional status of toddlers in Tanjung Botung Village, Padang Lawas Regency. A quantitative approach was employed using an analytical observational, cross-sectional study design. The study population consisted of 185 mothers with toddlers aged 0–59 months, from which a sample of 125 participants was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements, then analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a significance level of 0.05. The findings indicate that 77 mothers (61.6%) demonstrated an active level of participation, while 48 mothers (38.4%) were less active. The majority of the toddlers (64, or 51.2%) were classified k as having poor nutritional status, whereas 36 toddlers (28.8%) had a normal nutritional status. The study revealed a significant relationship between the level of maternal participation in Posyandu and the nutritional status of toddlers, with a p-value of 0.002 (p < 0.05). Increasing maternal participation, providing nutrition education, and strengthening growth monitoring through Posyandu are essential to support the prevention and management of nutritional issues among children under five.