An intervention using the model “Meals seen and practised” was organized regularly at San Chay households with children under 5 years old in Thai Nguyen Province. The results showed that families with children under 5 years old contributed their time and efforts actively, as well as sharing resources such as kg of foods for preparation of complementary food for children. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, N0 61, 2010 USING THE MODEL “MEALS SEEN AND PRACTISED” FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MALNUTRITION OF ETHNIC MINORITY CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD IN PHU DO COMMUNE, PHU LUONG DISTRICT,THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE Nguyen Minh Tuan Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy SUMMARY An intervention using the model “Meals seen and practised” was organized regularly at San Chay households with children under 5 years old in Thai Nguyen Province. The results showed that families with children under 5 years old contributed their time and efforts actively, as well as sharing resources such as kg of foods for preparation of complementary food for children. Mother’s nutrient knowledge and practice was clearly improved (Good knowledge: , good practice: ). The prevalence rate of underweight malnutrition in San Chay children under 5 years old decreased to from as found in the previous survey. ( Wasting 25 17 > After intervention, the malnutrition prevalence of underweight type decreased to from (p<). The stunting and wasting types were also dropped, but a statistically significant difference was not found when compared with before the intervention. 4. Discussion One of the orientations of the National Strategy on Nutrition in the 2001-2010 period is “ The socialization of nutrition task needs to be considered as a strategically solution with participation of many social sectors”. Based on the viewpoint of socialization, the author Phạm Mạnh Hùng said that it was necessary to create an appropriate environment for the community’s participation. Each individual’s health care from an unprompted activity only became a self-conscious activity when it had an impact on the whole community through collective activities. “Meals seen and practised” organized at households was a way to develop the community’s participation in children under five years old care activities. The results .
