ABSTRACT
The distraction of tropical rain forest in developing world has destroyed the forest ecological balance and affected its Inhabitants. In Indonesia, Increasing pressure on farm and forest lands has led the State Forest Corporation (SFC) to device a social forestry program. One of which was Implemented In Sanggau district, West Kalimantan province. The project, called Social Forestry Development Project (SFDP), aimed at establishing forest management system which allow for adequate income generation for the local population while preserving the forest ecological stability. The nutrition related activities of the project involved development of agricultural production, Income generation, development of Infrastructure facilities, and nutrition education. The study was conducted to Investigate the changes In nutritional situation of forest communities after three years Implementation of the SFDP In Sanggau district, West Kalimantan province. Two-repeat cross-sectional study was carried out In five sub villages of the project areas. Thirty households with under five children from each sub village were randomly selected from the list of total households that have under five children. Totally 152 households with 206 under five children from the first survey (April, 1993) and 151 households with 190 under five children from the second survey (September, 1996) were covered. Data on demographic characteristics, the nutritional status of under five children, socioeconomic conditions, sanitation conditions, food availability, food intake, child feeding practices, health services, exposure to Infectious diseases, and mothers' health and nutritional conditions were collected In both 1993 and 1996 surveys. Lower stunting prevalence (50.9% Vs 69.5%) and improved HAZ (-2.09 ± 1.46 Vs -2.70 ± 1.23) of children are observed in the area In 1996 compared to that In 1993. Suggesting that the project benefited the linear growth of children. The economic condition and food availability of the households In the area, as indicated by the Increase In percentage of households who owned radio and television (43.3% Vs 21.1% and 12.1% Vs 2.7%, respectively) and the decrease In percentage of those who experience food shortage (48.2% Vs 79.6%), was Improved. Significant Improvement was also observed In household consumption frequency of some food items and the ownership of KMS as well as Immunization coverage among the under five children. However, the sanitation condition and weaning practices in the area remained unchanged or even become worse and has led to high occurrence of diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI). It was concluded that, the SFDP benefited linear growth of children by Improving the condition of some nutritional determinants. Therefore, the continuation and improvement of all current nutritional related activities of the project is recommended. Since the sanitation condition and weaning practices in the area was still bad, other recommendation would be an Introduction of latrine and clean water supply and weaning time for Infant at the age of 4-6 months instead of at younger age (less than 4 months).