Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Early childhood is a critical window for establishing healthy dietary behaviors and preventing malnutrition. Evidence suggests that caregiver-focused interventions can significantly improve child nutrition outcomes, yet structured and scalable models remain limited in many settings.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing-led early childhood nutrition education program in improving caregiver knowledge, feeding practices, and child nutritional status.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 200 caregiver-child dyads (intervention group = 100; control group = 100) recruited from community health centers and preschools. The intervention consisted of four weekly sessions led by trained nurses, using culturally tailored, interactive educational methods. Data were collected at baseline and at 3-month follow-up, including caregiver nutrition knowledge (structured questionnaire), feeding practices (WHO IYCF indicators), and child anthropometry (WAZ, HAZ, WHZ, MUAC). Statistical analysis included paired t-tests, chi-square tests, and difference-in-differences estimates to assess within- and between-group changes.
Results: At baseline, groups were comparable on demographic and nutritional variables. After three months, caregiver knowledge scores increased significantly in the intervention group (+4.1 ± 1.6, p < 0.001) compared with controls (+1.1 ± 1.3). Minimum dietary diversity increased by 27 percentage points in the intervention group compared with a slight decrease in controls, and meal frequency improved by 22 percentage points (p < 0.05). Anthropometric indicators also improved, with WAZ and WHZ showing significant difference-in-differences, and stunting prevalence decreasing from 25% to 18% in the intervention group.
Conclusion: The nursing-led nutrition education program effectively enhanced caregiver knowledge and feeding practices, leading to early improvements in child growth indicators. These findings support the integration of structured, nurse-led nutrition education into primary healthcare systems as a scalable and sustainable strategy to promote child health. Strengthening nurse capacity, ensuring follow-up mechanisms, and integrating multi-sectoral support are essential for long-term impact.