Analysis of Fish Derived Protein Intake Adequacy and Cultural Factors and its Correlation with the Occurrence of Stunting among Children Under Two Years Old in Martapura Riverbanks, Banjar District Area

The Efficacy of Fish as an Early Complementary Food on the Linear Growth of Infants Aged 6–7 Months: A Randomised Controlled Trial

“…A cluster randomised controlled trial that assessed the effect of a fish protein isolate (FPi), administered over six months, on the growth of children aged 6–36 months compared with a standard meal (with animal protein derived from beef, chicken, eggs or liver) found that fish protein was just as effective in improving growth (HAZ) of children as a standard meal [ 35 ]. Fish consumption has shown an improvement in linear growth among children in other studies as well [ 36 , 37 ]. Observation of fish consumption and non-fish consumption in a cross-sectional three-month survey that was conducted in Sungai Pinang, Banjar District, Indonesia, among children aged 6–24 months, showed that children who were not consuming fish were 5.5 times (80.9%) more likely to be stunted compared to those who consumed fish (19.1%) [ 36 ] The effect on linear growth after fish consumption was also observed in a South Malawi study that assessed consumption of animal source proteins (ASP) and its association with improved HAZ in rural children aged 12–36 months.…”

“…Fish consumption has shown an improvement in linear growth among children in other studies as well [ 36 , 37 ]. Observation of fish consumption and non-fish consumption in a cross-sectional three-month survey that was conducted in Sungai Pinang, Banjar District, Indonesia, among children aged 6–24 months, showed that children who were not consuming fish were 5.5 times (80.9%) more likely to be stunted compared to those who consumed fish (19.1%) [ 36 ] The effect on linear growth after fish consumption was also observed in a South Malawi study that assessed consumption of animal source proteins (ASP) and its association with improved HAZ in rural children aged 12–36 months. Results showed that HAZ increased by 0.3 cm among children aged 12–36 months who had consumed fish as the main ASP [ 37 ].…”

“…According to studies, some of the reasons mothers do not feed fish to children include cultural beliefs, lack of education, and lack of knowledge on the importance of protein from fish to infants. Cultural beliefs and lack of education were reported to have been associated with low consumption of fish in a study conducted in India that looked at cultural factors and their correlation with the occurrence of stunting among children aged 6–24 months [ 36 ]. One of the beliefs established in the current study was that mothers in the Samfya district do not provide small fish to their infants due to the fear of choking.…”