Factors affecting stunting in children aged 6-23 months in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia
https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2023-0035
- Author:
Ria Andreinie
1
Author Information
1. Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia; & 5Midwifery Study Program, STIKES Abdurahman Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
birth length, child age, stunting, WAZ status
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2024;30(No. 2):129-142
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: South Sumatra Province in Indonesia has a relatively high prevalence
of stunting and there is limited research about this phenomenon in this area. The
study aimed to identify what factors affected stunting in children aged 6-23 months
in the province. Methods: Using a comparative cross-sectional design involving 139
mothers with children aged 6-23 months, the study collected data from September
to December 2022 via anthropometric measurements and interviews using a
questionnaire. Data on parental, child, socioeconomic, and environmental factors
were analysed using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results:
Overall, there were significant relationships among the following variables: child’s
age (p=0.031), birth length (p=0.017), and weight-for-age (WAZ) status (p<0.001) with
stunting. Children in the underweight and severely underweight categories were 28.7
times at risk of stunting compared to those in the normal category of WAZ status;
children aged 12-23 months had a 2.8 times risk of stunting compared to children
aged 6-11 months, while stunted birth length showed a 4.6 times risk of stunting
compared to that of normal birth length. Conclusion: This research found that child
age, birth length, and WAZ status were significant factors affecting stunting in the
South Sumatra Province. Given these results, this study offers recommendations
for the provincial government to focus on intervention programmes that provide
additional food for pregnant women with chronic energy deficiency, monitor the
growth of toddlers, and manage toddlers with nutritional problems in this province.
- Full text:20250526172744682544.2024my0648.pdf
