FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH NUTRITIONAL STATUS STREET CHILDREN IN THE CITY PEMATANGSIANTAR

Abstract

Street children are a group at risk of malnutrition because of the life they lead are likely to
behave at risk. Nutritional problems of street children is influenced by several factors such as age,
gender, activity, shelter, health care utilization, and diet.
This research is analytic. The sample used in this study were street children in the city where
the sample is taken Pematangsiantar acidental sampling during the months from October to December
2013. Methods of data collection is done by using the primary data and secondary data.
The results showed that there were 13.2% more nutritional status of street children, 52.8%
good nutritional status, nutritional status 30.2% less and 3.8% severe malnutrition. There is no
correlation between age and nutritional status of street children p = 0.973. No association with gender
nutritional status of street children p = 0.208. There is a relationship between activity and nutritional
status of street children there is a relationship p = 0,012.Tidak residence and nutritional status of street
children p = 0,059.Tidak no association between health service utilization and nutritional status of
street children p = 0,733.Ada the relationship between diet nutritional status street children p = 0.002.
Suggested to Pematangsiantar of Regional Government and relevant agencies to pay more
attention to the health of street children through education about nutrition and the provision of health
services for street children, either in the form of supplementary feeding and drugs, and to the parents
should pay attention to food consumption serves children with diverse wide and varied menu every
meal.