Negros Province - Malnutrition is a public health problem in the Philippines. This is a dietary deficiency that results in poor health conditions. We always think of malnutrition as it relates to children not eating enough of the right foods. It can also occur when children eat too much of the wrong foods. As parent, we are concerned with the nutritional needs of our children including avoiding risk factors that could lead to malnutrition. Understanding the major causes of malnutrition can help you form good habits when it comes to your own health as a parent, as well as the health of your child. According to UNICEF the main causes of childhood malnutrition can be categorized into three main underlying factors which are household food insecurity, inadequate care and unhealthy household environment, and lack of health care services.
It is important that people understand the causes of malnutrition so that actions can be directed to these causes. With the new normal, many people are more adept on the use of social media. This is a form of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as videos).
Social media has become one of the useful tools in educating and communicating with diverse groups and/or target clients. This medium is used to share, learn, and interact. It allows people to create profiles and share contents. It is often easier and more convenient to access and relay information using this means. Social media provides a platform where anyone can share their knowledge in their chosen field. Nutrition professionals for example can share evidence-based information and messages about nutrition to reach broader audiences and connect with the public. It can also be a great tool for virtual nutrition counseling and patient/client nutrition education.
Nutrition influencers love to build a community, and one of the ways that they can do that is by encouraging their followers to join nutrition or fitness challenges. Anyone can now access information about nutrition through social media and this can also give them the opportunity to share their own challenges and/or success stories. Since it is difficult nowadays to conduct a gathering or face-to-face discussions with clients due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social media becomes the outlet that people use to seek advice with health and nutrition professionals who in turn use the same for health and nutrition counseling which are done through facetime, messenger, webinars, or online discussion.
Social media may also have some disadvantages, but it will always depend on the users. Always remember to think before you click and rely on information only from credible sources. // ND II Chutsvieka May Pacatang, RND
