The effect of high-protein complementary feeding intervention “PROTIAS” on the growth of under-five children with stunting anemia

Stunting is a health issue in Indonesia, with a relatively high prevalence rate, and remains a focus of national programs. Children that are stunted are more likely to develop anemia. Long-term effects of this condition include malnutrition, which impairs a child's growth and may have an influence on adulthood. Children with stunted growth can benefit from supplemental food that is sufficiently nutrient-dense. It is well established that complementary foods with a high protein content greatly enhance children's growth. A high-protein supplemental food called “PROTIAS” is made from rice flour and catfish meat flour. With 32.75% protein, PROTIAS has a comparatively high protein level. The research was quasi-experimental, with a one-group pretest-posttest design. Ten children with stunting and anemia were given the "PROTIAS" supplemental food. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, body length, MUAC (mid-upper arm circumference), chest circumference, and head circumference, were taken after the three-month intervention. Statistical testing utilizing paired t-tests revealed a significant difference in stunted children's weight ( p-value = 0.002 ), body length ( p-value = 0.000 ), head circumference ( p-value = 0.034 ), and chest circumference ( p-value = 0.036 ). However, the MUAC value of stunted children did not significantly change ( p-value = 0.963 ). It can be concluded that the PROTIAS intervention can improve the anthropometry of children with stunting and anemia.