Sapporo Medical Journal

Abstract : Underweight is a nutritional problem that children under five years old generally experience due to some factors, such as energy and nutrient intake, infectious disease, exclusive breastfeeding practices, family characteristics, and others. This study intended to determine the underweight proportion, the relationship between these factors, and the dominant factor in the incidence of underweight. The research was conducted with a cross-sectional design on children aged 25-30 months in Gambir and Sawah Besar District, Central Jakarta. The total sample of the study was 121 children, using secondary data. The results showed that the percentage of children whose nutritional status was underweight was 25.6%. The results of the analysis using the chi-square test indicated that there were significant differences in energy intake (p-value= 0.027), carbohydrate intake (p-value= 0.035), father’s education level (p-value= 0.045), family income (p-value= 0.004) towards underweights. The multiple logistic regression analysis results indicated that carbohydrate intake was the dominant factor for underweight (OR= 7.7).