Sundanese Children’s Eating Culture and Nutritional Status in Tangerang, Indonesia

Abstract

The Indonesian nutritional status study mentions cases of malnutrition or malnutrition with a weight-for-age index of approximately 17%. This shows that almost a quarter of children still suffer from malnutrition. Papadangan, which is a culture of eating together in Sundanese tribal communities, has good and new potential as a strategy to prevent underweight toddlers. This study explores the culture of eating habits called ‘Papadangan’ among children under five in a Sundanese tribe. The research used a qualitative phenomenological study design with 16 informants who had children under five with poor and good nutrition. In-depth interviews were conducted with mothers of children under five. The experience of eating habits of children under five in the Sundanese tribe has five themes: the frequency of eating habits, the meaning of toddler eating habits, the benefits of eating habits, when eating habits are carried out, and the purpose of eating habits. This activity is carried out twice a day, in the morning and evening, involving three to five children under five eating together both on the terrace of the house and in the playground around the house. This eating habit can be used as an alternative for the community to increase the appetite of children under five in Tangerang, meaning that indirectly the community has tried to improve nutrition among children under five through eating together in the area.

Keywords: feeding behavior, Sundanese children’s culture, nutritional status.

https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.51.2.3