Abstract

The study was carried out in three different kinship areas : bilineal in West Java, patrilineal in Lampung and matrilineal in West Sumatera. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of sociocultural factors that may effect nutritional status. A total of 428 women in three study areas were interviewed and families were observed. The mean per capita expenditure was about the same in the three areas, and the portion of expenditure for food was 55 to percent. Based on weight for height using WHO-NCHS standard, the percent of families with malnourished children was 42,9 percent in Cianjur (West Java), 29,5 percent in Lampung Selatan (Lampung), and 30,7 percent in Tanah Datar (West Sumatera). The study revealed that condition and characteristic of the families of different knships in the study areas contribute the difference in knowledge, practice and eating pattern leading to the difference in nutritional status. In promoting behavioural change and for determining appropriate approaches to use, factors such as the role and status of women in the family in different kinships and community experiences combined with appropriate methods of adul education should be considered in applying the nutrition extension programme.