The Effect of Nutrition Counseling on Mother’s Knowledge and Nutrition Information in Autistic Children in Banda Aceh City

Abstract

Abstract   Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism Spectrum Disorder), commonly abbreviated as ASD or autism, is a condition of neurodevelopmental brain disorder that causes sufferers to experience difficulties in communicating and socializing. Parents go through difficult phases after their child is diagnosed with ASD. Therefore, increasing the knowledge capacity of parents and nutritional intake in autistic children is very important. Children with autism often experience a lack of certain nutrients that affect the growth, development, and fulfillment of specific nutritional needs.   AIM: Analyzing the Effect of Nutrition Counseling on Mother's Knowledge and Nutrient Intake in Autistic Children in Banda Aceh City   Methods: The research design used in this study was quasi-experimental with a pre-posttest observational approach. This research was conducted in four locations, namely the Autism Child Service Center, The Nanny Children Center (TNCC), Bintang Kecil, and My Hope Special Need Center from October to December 2021 in Banda Aceh. The sample in this study was the entire population, which amounted to 30 children with autism—analysis of the data using univariate and bivariate using the T-test dependent. . Results: From the results of statistical tests, it is known that there is a significant effect of nutritional counseling on mothers' knowledge and intake of gluten and casein sources of food in autistic children with p-value < 0.05). Nutritional counseling has been shown to increase maternal knowledge. The average knowledge of mothers before nutrition counseling was 84.56 and after 88.62. The average intake of gluten and casein sources before nutritional counseling was 82.59 and after 77.12.   CONCLUSION: There