Caregiver-based nutrition interventions: A strategy optimizing linear growth in children under two years in Garut Regency, Indonesia

<h2>ABSTRACT</h2><h3>Introduction</h3> Stunting remains a significant public health issue in Indonesia, with Garut Regency reporting one of the highest prevalence rates. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined educational and nutritional interventions, specifically the "One Day One Egg" (ODEG) program, on the linear growth of children under two years old in Garut Regency. <h3>Materials and methods</h3> A quasi-experimental design without full randomization was employed from May to November 2021, involving 192 mother-child pairs from Sukanegla and Wanajaya villages. Participants were assigned to the intervention group (n=96), which received nutritional education using the teach-back method plus daily egg supplementation for eight weeks, or the control group (n=96). Anthropometric data, nutritional knowledge, and practices were collected before and after the intervention. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the intervention's effects on height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ). <h3>Results</h3> The intervention group showed significant improvements in both HAZ and WAZ compared to the control group. The ODEG program was associated with a 2.8-fold increase in the odds of positive HAZ changes (AOR=2.816, 95% CI: 1.141–6.952) and a non-significant but notable trend towards improved WAZ (AOR=4.511, 95% CI: 0.928–21.917). Factors such as maternal education and reduced coliform risk were also positively associated with growth outcomes. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The combination of nutrition education and daily egg supplementation significantly improved linear growth among children under two years. These findings support integrating educational strategies with nutritional interventions to address stunting in high-prevalence areas. However, the quasi-experimental design and non-randomized group assignment should be considered when interpreting causality.