Since 2022, I have been conducting English communication workshop with school children at Flat Lembah Subang, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is a Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) complex located next to NKVE. Over the years, I have noticed that some children are either too short, too thin, or too big. When asked, “How old are you?” one response stuck with me. She said she was eight, but I think she looked like six.

At the same time, I have also been reading news on the pressing issue of child malnutrition in Malaysia. Malnutrition doesn’t necessarily mean starving; it more accurately refers to a child lacking the right size or development for their age.

Between 2019 and 2023, the Ministry of Health, through the Institute for Public Health, released statistics illustrating Malaysia’s dire situation. Economic constraints are the prominent factor barring their access to healthy grocery and meal choices. Researchers advocated for improving the public’s educational awareness and accessibility to healthy food, such as through food aid and the bazaar Rahmah.

Several studies have found that parents are aware of Malaysia’s key nutritional concepts and their importance to their children’s growth, such as the quarter-quarter-half or “suku-suku separuh” concept and the food pyramid. This suggests that the public health messaging has been received.

Despite numerous research studies and recommendations, child malnutrition still lacks critical perspectives, particularly in relation to family dynamics. Conversations at home about what, when, and how much to buy, as well as how these decisions affect child malnutrition, have yet to take place. By understanding the daily routine, challenges, and thought processes behind their decisions, stakeholders can design more targeted and effective strategies to alleviate the issue.

In 2024, my team and I conducted five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 29 participants to explore the complex interplay between parents and children at home. We focused on household decision-making processes among the urban poor, or rather, the vulnerable community residing in PPR complexes.

PARENTAL LOVE TRANSCENDS ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS

One key highlight of our findings is the importance of parental love and resilience. We were able to move beyond macro-level analyses of child malnutrition (poverty and food access) and explored parental sacrifices, negotiations, and struggles that occur within families when it comes to food choices.

For example, one participant expressed concerns about the current harsh living conditions and noted that she must work hard to meet her child's needs.

“If someone donates to me, I will take. In the current situation, I will buy whatever my child wants. That's why I said... Life is tough now, so I must work hard too. Whatever is needed now, I will just do it. Any kind of work, I can do it."

Fruits can be a luxury for most families. But at times, parents would proceed to buy some despite the economic constraints. They would put aside their financial worries and give their very best to meet their children’s requests even when faced with difficult circumstances.

"...for example, the expensive grapes. He wanted it before, but we didn't allow him. But one time, when he was down with a fever, that's when we finally gave it to him. He was too weak to eat [other food] by then."

We also found that negotiations frequently occur at home between parents and children when seeking healthier food options. Parents, along with their current awareness of nutrition, would suggest healthier alternatives to their children’s food cravings. If the children requested fast food, parents would make it at home instead.

“…if we buy, it's expensive…KFC is expensive, right? Number two, if we make it ourselves…we know whether the quality is good or not.”

However, life is not always linear. There are ups and downs in life circumstances, compounded by the hustle and bustle of Petaling Jaya city. Our findings unravelled parental struggles to keep up with the demanding commitment of feeding their children with nutritious food every single day. Struggles do not just happen in food acquisition, but more so in educating and shaping their children to develop the right behaviour towards food.

“I’ve attended a course before. But in that course, we didn’t fully grasp everything. We only remember the quarter-quarter-half [concept]… when we’re there, we can do it…Because we’re being monitored…We attended that 3-day course…But at home, it’s not possible. If we talk to

the kids, [they will say] “Oh, Mama, I’m hungry.” We can’t say, “Do you want quarter-quarter- half?” …They’d say, “Ma, give more.” Meaning, more rice. Less of the side dishes is fine.”

Budget constraints also lead parents to buy only items that children will eat. This suggests limited opportunities for children to explore and learn about consuming a broader range of healthy food options.

“For me, I will buy what my children eat. So, I don't have to waste [food].”

CONTINUOUS EDUCATION ON PARENTAL LOVE AND NUTRITION

We call for improved collaboration between local authorities, NGOs, and communities to run workshops that empower parents with the knowledge to translate their love into better nutritional outcomes. Nutrition education must go beyond awareness and focus on practical skills. Focus topics include:

1.      Understanding the nutritional needs of children at different ages.

2.      Handling children's demands for unhealthy foods (e.g., sugary snacks, fast food).

3.      Creative ways to make nutritious foods appealing to children.

4.      Prioritising healthier food options with a given budget.

Tailored educational programmes that consider the context of the urban poor can positively influence household food purchasing decisions. While the results may not be immediate, fostering education and behavioural changes at home is the most sustainable way to ease the burden of child malnutrition, one family at a time.

This study was supported by the Internal Research Grant Scheme [IRGS 23-11-003], HELP University.