Knowledge and dietary adherence of caregivers on Malaysian dietary guidelines and their relationship to the nutritional status of young children in Kelantan

Background: Malaysia is facing dual challenges of stunting and obesity among young children. To address these issues, the Malaysian Dietary Guideline (MDG) was introduced. This study evaluates the knowledge and dietary adherence of caregivers to the MDG and its impact on the nutritional status of young children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among selected kindergartens in Kelantan, whereby children’s height and weight were measured, and caregivers were interviewed on knowledge of MDG. The correlation between caregivers’ knowledge, adherence to MDG, and their children’s nutritional status was evaluated using the Spearman correlation and Chi-square test. Results: A total of 60 pairs of caregivers and their children participated in the study. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, obesity, and wasting was 17%, 23%, 10%, and 7%, respectively. Caregivers demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge regarding the MDG. Adherence to the MDG for vegetables and fruit was poor and none adhered to the fat recommendation. Nevertheless, most of them (83%) followed sugar recommendations. No significant correlation was observed between caregivers' knowledge of MDG and the children's status of underweight (p=0.693), stunting (p=0.652), or wasting (p=0.240). However, a significant correlation was identified between caregiver sugar consumption and their children's stunting status (p<0.05). Conclusion: Stunting remains the most common nutritional problem among young children. Caregivers exhibit a moderate knowledge level and poor adherence towards MDG. Hence, further exploration is required to facilitate practical strategies for improving diet quality among young children.