Malahayati International Journal of Nursing and Health Science
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): Volume 9 Number 1

Effectiveness of complementary food formulated from soybean seed coat and milkfish flour in supporting weight gain among young children

Lindawati (Unknown)
Sari, Yunita (Unknown)
Sari, Cucuk Kunang (Unknown)
Wijanarko, Bangun (Unknown)
Dewi Indah Sari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Mar 2026

Abstract

Background: Child undernutrition remains a significant concern in Indonesia, particularly during the complementary feeding period when inadequate dietary quality may impair optimal growth. Purpose: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a complementary feeding formulation composed of soybean seed coat flour and milkfish flour in supporting weight gain among children aged 9–12 months. Method: A quasi-experimental one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted among 20 children, with 16 included in the final analysis after excluding dropouts and outliers. Participants received 125 ml of the formulated complementary food daily for nine consecutive days. Body weight was assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Due to non-normal data distribution (Shapiro–Wilk p < 0.05), the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was applied. Seven children demonstrated weight gain, seven showed no change, and two experienced slight weight loss. Despite positive tendencies, the overall change was not statistically significant (Z = −1.727; p = 0.08). Factors such as short intervention duration, inconsistent caregiver adherence, concurrent intake of ultra-processed foods, and minor illnesses likely contributed to limited measurable changes. Conclusion: Although not statistically significant, the nutrient-rich formulation shows potential for longer-term application, especially in low-resource settings. Extended duration studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

minh

Publisher

Subject

Health Professions Nursing Public Health

Description

Malahayati International Journal of Nursing and Health Science is a peer-reviewed journal and provides a platform to publish areas of nursing and health science. The journal also seeks to advance the quality of research by publishing papers introducing or elaborating on new methods in nursing and ...