Introduction: Newborns have low vitamin A reserves and rely on breastmilk to meet their vitamin A needs. This study aimed to determine factors associated with vitamin A concentration in colostrum of rural postpartum mothers. Methods: Out of 180 postpartum women interviewed at seven Community Health Centers in South Sulawesi Province, 160 who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Breastmilk (colostrum) samples were obtained shortly after delivery from the breast that was not full and not fed to the infant for at least 30 min. Breastmilk samples of 3-5 mls were collected into sterile plastic tubes using a manual pump. The samples were immediately placed in an icebox and transported to the laboratory within six hours after collection. Vitamin A concentrations were determined using HPLC method. Socioeconomic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, gestational age, and dietary intake of mothers (24-hour recall) were obtained. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were undertaken to determine factors associated with vitamin A concentration in colostrum. Results: Dietary assessment showed unsatisfactory intake levels of calories, fat, protein, vitamin A, iron and zinc compared to the recommendations for Indonesia. Mean vitamin A concentration in colostrum was 58.2 μg/dl, and about 81.2% of the participants had normal colostrum vitamin A concentration. Iron intake and gestational age were significantly associated with colostrum vitamin A concentrations. Conclusion: Majority of the postpartum mothers had normal colostrum vitamin A concentration. Maternal dietary intake including iron is important to ensure adequacy of vitamin A in breastmilk.

Introduction: Undernutrition among adolescent girls is an important concern due to their rapid growth velocity that requires adequate intake of energy and nutrients. This study compared intake adequacy and dietary diversity between adolescent public schoolgirls from slum areas in Central Jakarta who had normal and poor nutritional status. Methods: A total of 220 eligible girls aged 14–18 years were recruited, with an equal proportion in the normal group (NG) [-1 to +1 SD body mass index-for-age z-score (BAZ)], and undernutrition group (UG) (BAZ < -1SD). Dietary intake was assessed using two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) were determined with reference to the intake of 13 food groups with a minimum daily intake of 15 gram/food group. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to obtain the DDS cut-off. The Mann–Whitney test was performed to compare DDS between the NG and UG. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the likelihood of potential factors in predicting nutritional status outcome. Results: Overall, almost half of the girls’ daily food intake showed low dietary diversity based on DDS cut-off <5, with no significant difference between NG and UG adolescents. Protein intake inadequacy showed significant unlikelihood of a NG outcome (OR=0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8), while low socioeconomic status (SES) showed a strong likelihood of an UG (OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.3-5.5) compared to high SES. Conclusion: Low dietary intake and DDS were common among adolescent schoolgirls in slum areas in Jakarta. Nutrition interventions promoting appropriate dietary intake among adolescent girls are recommended.

Introduction: Poor diet quality is a major issue, and health concerns may be related to diet. Mothers with young children usually have their meals at home; thus, home food environment plays a role in determining dietary behaviours. This study examined the association between health concerns and diet quality among mothers; additionally, the effect of home food environment on this relationship was assessed. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprising 229 mothers (aged 19–49 years) with young children was conducted in an urban slum area in North Jakarta. Data were collected via interviews using a structured questionnaire. The General Health Interest Scale and Consumer Behaviour Questionnaire were used to assess health concern and home food environment, respectively. The 24-hour dietary recall method was used to calculate the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) score. Spearman’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and path analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: Majority of the mothers had poor diet quality (mean DQI-I score, 41.44/100). No significant correlation between health concern and diet quality was observed. After adjusting for age, the relationship between health concern and diet quality was not mediated by vegetables availability or eating out frequency (indirect effect=0.012; p=0.096). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed age as a significant predictor of diet quality (B=0.196; p=0.024). Conclusion: Diet quality among mothers of young children differed with age and was related to both health concerns and home food environment. Thus, the development of strategies to promote healthy eating based on different age groups is warranted.