Judul: Orientasi Gizi Masyarakat: Studi Sosio Budaya di Provinsi NTB (Kasus di Pulau Lombok Provinsi NTB)
Abstrak: Nusa Tenggara Barat Province is one of provinces in Indonesia experiencing a severe problem on malnutrition and undernourishment. The province is a central of national paddy production; however, its malnutrition problem is increasing yearly. Malnutrition problem is a complicated problem since it involves various dimensions. It is not only involving technical problem but also social system conception related to certain cultural values given by a society for the disease as either positive or negative symbols. The problem is also influenced by food preference during the pregnancy and until the child grows to be an adult person. Any dietetic on a life period of certain group is formed based on local cultural values. For example, in Sasak tribe, it is forbidden for a pregnant woman to consume any fishes and meats. The malnutrition problem is worst for marginal families within the lower level of society group. Children from poor society group mostly experience the problem. The purposes of the research are: (1) to find out and analyze the nutrient status of toddlers in coastal Sasak community and rice field Sasak community; and (2) to study the role of ecological adaptation pattern, social cultural system and developmental policy on toddlers‟ nutrient status in coastal Sasak community and rice field Sasak community. The research is based on the theorizing of Kluckhohn on cultural value orientation of a society, Blau on social structure of a society, and Julian Steward on cultural adaptation. The research is also based on the reality that various developmental policies and malnutrition and undernourishment alleviation are assumed to contribute on the high level of malnutrition and undernourishment cases in those communities. Qualitative and quantitative methods with post-positivism paradigm are used as the research method. The research is conducted in two Sasak communities in coastal and rice paddy areas in East Lombok Regency NTB Province. Two villages in one sub district area are selected from each of both areas as the research location. The research analysis unit is Sasak tribe community in coastal and rice paddy areas. Due to the time and cost limit, in order to understand the social context of Sasak society, the research uses data of household having malnutrition and undernourishment children. Data is analyzed using two approaches, qualitative and quantitative. Cross tabulation is applied on quantitative data to have a picture on malnutrition, undernourishment and normal nutrition cases in both communities. Qualitative data explains the philosophical reason on differentiation factors causing the booming of malnutrition and undernourishment cases. Research result indicates a fact that the relationship between pregnant mother and toddlers through an interpretation is the reflection of cultural value orientation of Sasak society; in which, nutrient is determined by what to eat, the food type, how the food is being processed, and how to give the food to toddlers. The interpretation on number of children has a role in factors causing malnutrition and undernourishment cases in coastal area. In rice field areas, on the contrary, marriage and divorce is the causative factor of fragile family. Description on nutrient status of toddlers is perceived from the parenting pattern for
Keyword: Cultural orientation, Malnutrition and undernourishment, Sasak, East Lombok