Gut Microbiota Profile, SCFA, Gut Integrity, Parasite Infection, Hygiene Practice and Cognitive Score on Stunted Children in East Nusa Tenggara

Stunting indicates a public health problem because it is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality, decreased motor and mental function development, and reduced physical capacity. Stunting is a chronic nutritional deficiency condition that affects the growth and development, and intelligence of children. Lack of nutrients can cause intestinal microbiota dysbiosis where this will reduce the metabolism of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) which will affect the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine and cause impaired immunity, which in turn worsens stunting conditions. The composition of the gut microbiota is influenced by age, sex, geographic area and food intake. Therefore, the description of knowledge, attitudes and applications in society, especially mothers and child subjects, was also analyzed using a hygiene practice questionnaire. The aim of the study was to obtain an overview of the gut microbiota, gastrointestinal integrity, parasitic infections, hygiene practices and cognitive scores in stunting and healthy toddlers in several areas in the province of East Nusa Tenggara as a baseline study to be followed up by intervention study.

The research will be conducted for 3 (three) months in 2021/2022. The subjects involved represented 100 stunted children and 100 healthy children aged 36-45 months from each region. Determination of the sample with a sampling quota. The variables studied were the nutritional status of under five years children, characteristics of children under five (age, gender, birth weight (BBL), birth length, breast feeding history, immunization history, history of diarrhea, history of ARI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)), mother and family characteristics (age, education). , occupation, father's occupation, total family income), home environment and hygiene, vaccination history, gastrointestinal microbiota status, gastrointestinal integrity, parasites, hygiene practices, and cognitive scores.