Kurang gizi dipengaruhi beberapa faktor, diantaranya, karakteristik orang tua dan balita. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran karakteristik orang tua dan balita kurang gizi di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Kosambi Tangerang. Penelitian menggunakan desain deskriptif sederhana. Responden penelitian berjumlah 84 orang dengan teknik consecutive sampling. Hasil penelitian menemukan karakteristik orang tua balita kurang gizi adalah usia, tingkat pendidikan yang rendah, pekerjaan dengan penghasilan yang rendah, dan pola asuh pemberian makan yang kurang baik. Karakteristik balita kurang gizi mayoritas berjenis kelamin perempuan dan berusia rata-rata 29,85 bulan. Pendidikan kesehatan mengenai pencegahan kurang gizi pada balita diperlukan untuk menurunkan angka kurang gizi pada balita.

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Parents and child characteristics are some of the many factors, affecting poor nutrition in children under five. This study aims to describe the characteristics of parents and children under five suffer from malnutrition in Puskesmas Kosambi, Tangerang work area. This study used descriptive design with consecutive sampling method. This study gathered 84 samples. Study results showed the characteristics of the parents of children with poor nutrition are age, low educational level, occupation with low income, and poor feeding pattern by parents. Most of the children suffer from malnutrition are female and at the age of 29,85 months. Health education regarding prevention of poor nutrition in children is necessary to decrease the prevalence of children with poor nutrition.