Factors affecting nutritional status in children aged 6–24 months in lamongan regency, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Family food security and parenting are factors affecting changes in nutritional status related to family care and food availability. AIM: This study aims to analyze the factors affecting nutritional status in children aged 6–24 months in Lamongan Regency, Indonesia. METHODS: The study used cross-sectional data with 191 children aged 6–24 months and their parents, selected by simple random sampling. The data were collected through observations and interviews and used to assess the physical endurance and nutritional status based on the questionnaires, food frequency, observations, weight scales, and World Health Organization/National Center for Health Statistics reference standards. RESULTS: The results of the double linear regression test p = 0.000 indicated that the parenting coefficient had more influence on the nutritional status of children aged 6–24 months than the family food security coefficient on the nutritional status of children in Lamongan Regency, with Y = 1.565 + 0.062 X1 + 0.446 X2, Y being nutritional status, 1.565 as the coefficient value, X1 (0.062) being family food security, and X2 (0.446), parenting. CONCLUSION: Better parenting improved the nutritional status of children aged 6–24 months compared to maintaining food security. Thus, parenting improvement programs could be prioritized through the Community Health Center.