Riza Tsalatsatul Mufida, Nur Afidatul Fajriyah

EFFECTIVENESS OF ZINC SUPPLY ON WEIGHT INCREASE IN TODDLERS AGED 2-5 YEARS AT TPMB INDRA WAHYU

Introduction

Effectiveness of zinc supply on weight increase in toddlers aged 2-5 years at tpmb indra wahyu. Discover the effectiveness of zinc syrup in boosting weight gain for toddlers (2-5 years) with malnutrition. A study at TPMB Indra Wahyu shows significant improvement after 30 days.

Abstract

This issue deterioration occurs, it can be said to be malnutrition and is usually characterized by weight loss and stunted development. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of zinc administration on increasing the weight of toddlers aged 2-5 years at TPMB Indra Wahyu. The Quasi-experimental with a pre-test - post-test design. Purposive sampling technique. The sample is 52 respondents. From toddlers aged 2-5 years. Variable (X) Zinc Syrup. Variable (Y) Weight Gain. This research using the Wilcoxon Test. The results of the study after the intervention for 30 days, most experienced an increase in body weight of 32 children (82%) and those whose body weight remained the same as 7 children (18%). Test statistical test obtained p = 0.001 so that p <0.05 and there is effectiveness in providing zinc syrup on increasing the weight of toddlers aged 2-5 years at TPMB Indra Wahyu.

Review

This study addresses a highly relevant public health concern regarding malnutrition and weight increase in toddlers, which is a significant issue in many low-resource settings. The clear objective—to assess the effectiveness of zinc administration on weight gain in children aged 2-5 years—is commendable. The findings, indicating a statistically significant increase in weight for a majority of participants after 30 days of intervention, suggest a promising role for zinc supplementation in combating childhood undernutrition. Such positive results, if robustly supported, could inform public health interventions and policy, making the study's aim and initial conclusions valuable. However, the abstract presents several methodological and reporting concerns that limit the strength of its conclusions. The quasi-experimental, pre-test-post-test design, while practical, inherently lacks a control group, thus making it difficult to definitively attribute the observed weight gains solely to zinc administration, as other factors or natural growth could contribute. More critically, there is a significant discrepancy in the reported sample size: the abstract states "The sample is 52 respondents," yet later reports that "32 children (82%)" experienced weight increase and "7 children (18%)" remained the same, totaling only 39 children. This inconsistency (52 vs. 39 participants discussed in the results) is a major flaw that undermines the reliability of the reported percentages and overall findings, requiring immediate clarification. Furthermore, crucial methodological details such as the specific dosage and frequency of zinc syrup, baseline nutritional status of the toddlers, and precise criteria for "weight gain" (e.g., absolute gain, Z-score changes) are absent, hindering a comprehensive evaluation. Despite the identified methodological limitations and the critical reporting discrepancy, the statistically significant p-value (p = 0.001) suggests a potential positive effect of zinc. While the study indicates an effectiveness in providing zinc syrup, the generalizability is restricted by the purposive sampling technique and the unclear definition of the study population. To strengthen these findings, future research should employ a more rigorous design, such as a randomized controlled trial with a placebo group, to establish causality more firmly. It is also imperative for the full paper to clearly address the sample size discrepancy and provide detailed information on the intervention protocol, participant characteristics, and specific outcome measures. Such improvements would enhance the study's scientific rigor and its potential impact on clinical practice and public health recommendations.

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