De Leon, John Russel A., Raton, Valerie Grace T., Salon, Paula Jane N., Sablaon, April B., "ASSESSMENT OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF TWO FIVE YEAR OLD CHILDREN IN BARANGAY DAPDAP, LEGAZPI CITY" (An undergraduate Thesis, Aquinas University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Rawis, Legazpi City , SY 2013-2014).

This study is a descriptive type of research composed of 64 respondents from Barangay Dapdap,Legazpi City who are all mothers of the 2-5 years old children. Primary and secondary sources of data were used to gather data using a structured questionnaire that had undergone dry-run to test the validity before its final use. In order to have an accurate analysis and interpretation of the data collected, several statistical tools were used such as Frequency, Percentage, and Mean Rating.

This study determined the awareness of the parents on proper nutrition of 2-5 years old on Barangay Dap-dap, Legazpi City. Specially, it sought answers to the following problems: 1) What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of: sex, weight of the child, height of
the child, family monthly income?; 2) What is the level of awareness of the parents on the proper nutrition for their children along nutritional food values and preparation of foods?; 3) What are the food preferences of the respondents for their 1-5 year old child/children?; 4) What are the factors that affect the nutritional status of "1-5 years old children?;and 5) What measures maybe proposed to improve the nutritional status of 2-5 years old children in Barangay Dapdap, Legazpi City? Based on the data gathered, the finding showed the following:In line with the demographic profile of the respondents, the Following results came out as follows: On Sex: Majority of the respondents were males with a total of 36 or 56.25%, while 28 or 43.75 % were females. This implied that there are more 2-5 years old male than female children. On Weight for age.Out of 64 respondents, 47 or 73.43% have 11-15 kilograms weight (kgs) while 8 or 12.6% are having 16-20 weight kgs. This means that most of the children are within the
average weight of a 2-5 years old child. On Height for age. It showed that children having a height of 90-99 ems and 70-89 cms have same frequency of 25 or 39.06% both considered within normal limit, while only 6 or 9.38% got 110-120 cms. On Family monthly income.The greater parts of the respondents have an average monthly income of 5,000 pesos and below which comprises the frequency of 60 or 93.75%. As to the level of awareness of parents on the proper nutrition of their 2-5 years old children: On Nutritional Values. Findings revealed that the respondents were much aware that green leafy vegetables are rich in Vitamin E which is an antioxidant in the body having the highest mean of 3.94. This is followed by a mean of 3.92 wherein the respondents were also aware that fruits and vegetable contain many nutrients and other properties such as fiber and phytochemicals that are important to child's growth and development. On the other hand, data revealed that the indicator "carbonated drinks like soda, soft drinks, are the numbers one source of sugar" had the lowest mean of 2.63 meaning the respondents are only aware.

This is followed by the indicators "foods high in fat and sugar do not have the nutrients that the child needs to be healthy" with a mean of
2.83. On Preparation of foods. The result showed that the foods should be served with mild flavor that are not too spicy since children are very sensitive to taste and temperature of foods with the highest mean of 3.60 and has an interpretation of much aware. This is followed by not to serve food that is too hot or too cold before serving with 3.50 mean and letting the child help in the planning of and prepare meals is beneficial with 3.32 mean and they have an interpretation of aware. The lowest result showed that steaming or poaching food to soft consistency should be done especially if the child does not have any teeth with 2.28 mean and preparing and serving the child healthy snacks each day 1 'A to 2 hours between meals to prevent children from becoming too hungry and irritable between meals with 2.29 mean interpretation as less aware. Along the issue on food preferences, results revealed that the foods preferred by the parents for their child/children are fruits and vegetables with frequency of 57 or 89.06% followed by bread, biscuits and cookies with frequency of 51 or 79.67%; fish, pork, beef, chicken and the indicator hotdog, sausage and other processed foods both have the same frequency of 40 or 62.5% and dried fish got 38 or 59.36%. These higher results were noted significant in this study as their results are all above 50%. On the other hand, three (3) indicators were also found significant having the lowest results such as; french fries and doughnuts with a frequency of one (1) or 1.56%, foods bought from the fast foods, 4 or 6.25%, and carbonated drinks, 21.88%.
This implied that the parents are more aware of the benefits of eating fruit and vegetables rather than eating french fries, doughnuts and food bought from fast foods. Along factors affecting the nutritional status of 2-5 years old children, it came out that the major factors that affect the nutritional status of children 2-5 years old were the presence of disease with a frequency of 54 or 84.38%, followed by taste preferences of the child with a frequency of 52 or 81.25% and cost of food and available money for purchasing food (food budget) has 49 or 76.56%. The lowest factor that affects the nutrition of children is availability of food in the kitchen, cabinets and refrigerators with a frequency of 11 or 17.19%, catering to, children's desire on what food to eat with 14 or 21.88% and consuming diets of poor nutritional quality and limited variety with 19 or 29.69%. Based on the findings, the following conclusions were drawn: The demographic profile of the respondents, shows that majority of the respondents' children are males and mostly weighed 11-15 kilograms (kgs), having a height of 90-99 cms and 70-89 cm sand the family have a monthly income of 5,000 pesos and below.
The level of awareness of parents on the proper nutrition of their 2-5 years old children, On Nutritional Values, the respondents were much aware that green leafy vegetables are rich in Vitamin E which is an antioxidant in the body and that fruits and vegetables contain many nutrients and other properties such as fiber and phytochemicals that are important to child's growth and development, whereas, the respondents are only aware that carbonated drinks like soda, soft drinks, are the number one source of sugar" and foods high in fat and sugar do not have the nutrients that the child needs to be healthy; On Preparation of food, the respondents are much aware that the food should be served with mild flavor that are not too spicy since children are very sensitive to taste and temperature of foods, and not to serve food that is too hot or too cold before serving and letting the child help in the planning and preparation of meals is beneficial. The lowest result showed that the respondents are less aware that steaming or poaching food to soft consistency should be done especially if the child does not have any teeth and preparing, and serving the child healthy snacks each day 1 1/2 to 2 hours between meals to prevent children from becoming too hungry and irritable between meals. The foods preferred by the parents for their child/children are fruits and vegetables followed by bread, biscuits and cookies fish, pork, beef, chicken and the indicator hotdog, sausage and other processed foods. These higher results were noted significant in this study as their results are all above 50%. On the other hand, three (3) indicators were also found significant having the lowest results such as; french fries, doughnuts, foods bought from fast foods and carbonated drinks.
The major factors that affect the nutritional status of children 2-5 years old were the presence of disease followed by taste preferences of the child and cost of foods and available money for purchasing foods (food budget). The lowest factor that affects the nutrition of children is availability of food in the kitchen, cabinets and refrigerators, catering to children's desire on what food to eat and consuming diets of poor nutritional quality and limited variety. Several measures were proposed to the problems identified. Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations were presented: Since the outcome on the demographic profile came out that the majority of the families of the 2-5 years old children were classified below poverty line for having a monthly income of 5,000 pesos and below, it is recommended that the Local government Unit must institute income generating programs that could help their constituents uplift their income. Seminars, training's and workshops on proper nutrition are ways that can help the parents of the 2-5 years old children enhance their knowledge and skills along the importance of the nutritional values as well as preparation of foods. Despite the fact that parents preferred fruits and vegetables for their children and other healthy foods like bread, biscuits and cookies fish, pork, beef, and chicken, the result is still significant that children were eating hotdog, sausage and other processed foods. In this case, a house to house health education could be done by the health workers to refrain from eating processed foods. Barangay LGU should initiate in designing a program on livelihood together with their constituents on how to improve their economic status to gain people's participation.