OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the determinants linked to stunting among infants and young children aged 0-23 months in the Fourth District of Camarines Sur.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 628 primary caregivers with infants and young children aged 0-23 months in four municipalities of the Fourth District of Camarines Sur, Philippines, using a two stage stratified random sampling design. Data on sociodemographic and economic factors were collected through face-to-face interviews. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators were assessed using a list-based approach, while weight and length were evaluated using the World Health Organization Anthro Plus software. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were done using R statistical software version 4.3.1.

The study revealed that the prevalence of stunting was of significant public health concern, reaching 42.8%. Holding other variables constant, age of the child (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.63-0.94), having college undergraduate mothers (OR=0.26; 95% CI: 0.05-1.28), and belonging to a poor income household (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.14-0.88) were associated with stunting among infants aged 0.01-6.00 months. Moreover, after controlling for the confounding effects of other variables, age (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.14) and sex of the child (OR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.05-2.28) were associated with stunting among older children aged 6.00-23.99 months.

This study emphasizes the challenge of stunting in the Fourth District of Camarines Sur. None of the IYCF indicators were associated with stunting; however, maternal education, the child’s age, sex, and socioeconomic status were identified as significant factors influencing stunting. Addressing these determinants through targeted interventions focusing on improving maternal education and enhancing socio-economic conditions were crucial to reducing stunting in the study areas.

Child ; Humans ; Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use* ; Growth Disorders/therapy*

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the determinants linked to stunting among infants and young children aged 0-23 months in the Fourth District of Camarines Sur. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 628 primary caregivers with infants and young children aged 0-23 months in four municipalities of the Fourth District of Camarines Sur, Philippines, using a twostage stratified random sampling design. Data on sociodemographic and economic factors were collected through face-to-face interviews. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators were assessed using a list-based approach, while weight and length were evaluated using the World Health Organization Anthro Plus software. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were done using R statistical software version 4.3.1. Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of stunting was of significant public health concern, reaching 42.8%. Holding other variables constant, age of the child (OR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.63-0.94), having college undergraduate mothers (OR=0.26; 95% CI: 0.05-1.28), and belonging to a poor income household (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.14-0.88) were associated with stunting among infants aged 0.01-6.00 months. Moreover, after controlling for the confounding effects of other variables, age (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.14) and sex of the child (OR=1.55; 95% CI: 1.05-2.28) were associated with stunting among older children aged 6.00-23.99 months. Conclusion This study emphasizes the challenge of stunting in the Fourth District of Camarines Sur. None of the IYCF indicators were associated with stunting; however, maternal education, the child’s age, sex, and socioeconomic status were identified as significant factors influencing stunting. Addressing these determinants through targeted interventions focusing on improving maternal education and enhancing socio-economic conditions were crucial to reducing stunting in the study areas.
Human ; growth disorders ; risk factors ; nutritional status ; infant nutrition disorders

Background and Objectives: Nutritional deficiency in stunting toddlers is closely related to the calcium deficiency which is the most important component of the formation of bone and tooth structure. Deficiency of calcium can delay tooth eruption and increase the risk of dental caries. Little is known about the difference in dental caries severity on stunting and non-stunting toddlers in Kalisat, Jember, Indonesia. The study aims to examine the differences between the severity of dental caries on stunting and non-stunting toddlers. Methods: This was an analytic observational study with a cross-sectional approach conducted in the working area of Kalisat Health Center, Jember, Indonesia. The population was stunting and non-stunting toddlers aged 25-60 months. The samples were selected using clustered random sampling technique (100 stunting toddlers and 100 non-stunting toddlers). Variables in this research were dental caries and incidence of stunting. The measurement of dental caries in toddlers was carried out by identifying the worst type of dental caries in toddlers, which occurred as pulp irritation (IP), pulp hyperemia (HP), pulp gangrene (GP), and radix gangrene (GR). Data analysis was descriptive. Mann Whitney U-test was used with 0.05 (p-value) as a test to analyze the differences between stunting and non-stunting toddlers’ dental caries. Results: Stunting toddlers had more cases of pulp gangrene and radix gangrene than non-stunting toddlers. Mann Whitney U-Test showed the p-value was 0.038 (p < 0.05) which meant there were differences in dental caries between stunting and non-stunting toddlers. Conclusion Most of the stunting toddlers had more severe dental caries than the non-stunting toddlers.
Dental Caries ; Stunting ; Growth Disorders

Background and Objectives: Malnutrition is a serious public health problem in developing countries, including Indonesia. Based on RISKESDAS 2018, the prevalence of stunting aged 13-15 years in Takalar Regency is 24.83%. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stunting and the determinants of stunting in adolescent girls aged 13-15 years in the South Galesong District, Takalar Regency. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using purposive sampling method that included 247 adolescent girls in selected junior high schools. Data collection used questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. An anthropometric measurement was converted to the indices of nutritional status using World Health Organization Anthro Plus software. Results: The prevalence of stunting was 25.1%. Bivariate analysis showed determinant factors related significantly to stunting were energy intake (p<0.001), protein intake (p<0.001), iron intake (p<0.005), and zinc intake (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed determinant factors related significantly to stunting were zinc intake (p<0.001, OR=7.993), protein intake (p<0.05, OR=2.248), and knowledge level (p<0.05, OR=2.032). Conclusion The occurrence of stunting is related to the quality and quantity of food and the level of adolescent knowledge about balanced nutrition. It is necessary to hold educational programs and interventions on improving nutrition initiated by stakeholders and the department of health, in this case, the health center is needed to reduce stunting rates, especially among adolescents.
Malnutrition ; Growth Disorders ; Adolescent

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the global cardiac sphericity index (GCSI) of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) fetuses, small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and growth-restricted fetuses scanned at term in a government tertiary hospital, maternal high risk (MHR) and to determine the association between the GCSI of these three groups of fetuses and their neonatal outcomes. Methodology: The study prospectively evaluated and compared the GCSI of AGA, SGA, and growth-restricted fetuses. Pregnant women at term seen at the outpatient department and scanned at the MHR clinic then eventually delivered in the same hospital from March to May 2022 were included in this study. Results: GCSIs were measured with 147 fetuses (106 AGA, 38 SGA, and 3 growth‑restricted fetuses). The result indicated that the GCSI of AGA fetuses was higher than that of the SGA and growth‑restricted fetuses. This study found that there is a significantly higher frequency of abnormal GSCI among SGA and growth‑restricted fetuses. This study also found that there is no statistically significant correlation between the GCSI measurements of these three groups of fetuses and their neonatal outcomes. Conclusions Abnormal GCSIs were found in fetuses with an estimated fetal weight <10th percentile (more specifically in growth‑restricted fetuses than in those who are just SGA) as compared with AGA fetuses. However, the correlation between an abnormal GCSI in any of these three groups of fetuses and their neonatal outcomes needs further investigation.
Fetal Growth Retardation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of a fetus with Melnick-Needles syndrome (MNS). METHODS: A fetus with MNS diagnosed at Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital in November 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data was collected. Pathogenic variant was screened by using trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasonography of the fetus had shown multiple anomalies including intrauterine growth retardation, bilateral femur curvature, omphalocele, single umbilical artery, and oligohydramnios. Trio-WES revealed that the fetus has harbored hemizygous c.3562G>A (p.A1188T) missense variant of the FLNA gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was maternally derived, whilst its father was of a wild type. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PS4+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The hemizygous c.3562G>A (p.A1188T) variant of the FLNA gene probably underlay the structural abnormalities in this fetus. Genetic testing can facilitate accurate diagnosis of MNS and provide a basis for genetic counseling for this family.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Filamins/genetics* ; Genetic Counseling ; Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with 6q26q27 microduplication and 15q26.3 microdeletion. METHODS: A fetus with a 6q26q27 microduplication and a 15q26.3 microdeletion diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in January 2021 and members of its pedigree were selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the fetus was collected. The fetus and its parents were analyzed by G-banding karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and its maternal grandparents were also subjected to G-banding karyotype analysis. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound had indicated intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus, though no karyotypic abnormality was found with the amniotic fluid sample and blood samples from its pedigree members. CMA revealed that the fetus has carried a 6.6 Mb microduplication in 6q26q27 and a 1.9 Mb microdeletion in 15q26.3, and his mother also carried a 6.49 duplication and a 1.867 deletion in the same region. No anomaly was found with its father. CONCLUSION The 6q26q27 microduplication and 15q26.3 microdeletion probably underlay the intrauterine growth retardation in this fetus.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; East Asian People ; Fetal Growth Retardation/genetics* ; Karyotype ; Pedigree ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion ; Chromosome Duplication

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the nutritional status and its influencing factors in children with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children who were diagnosed with IBD for the first time in Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021. Diagnostic delay was defined as the time from the symptom onset to IBD diagnosis being in the upper quartile (P₇₆-P₁₀₀) of all IBD children in the study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors for emaciation and growth retardation. RESULTS: A total of 125 children with newly diagnosed IBD were included, with Crohn's disease being the main type (91.2%). The rates of emaciation and growth retardation were 42.4% (53 cases) and 7.2% (9 cases), respectively, and the rate of anemia was 77.6% (97 cases). Diagnostic delay was noted in 31 children (24.8%), with the time from the symptom onset to IBD diagnosis of 366 to 7 211 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diagnostic delay was a risk factor for emaciation and growth retardation (OR=2.73 and OR=4.42, respectively; P<0.05) and that age was positively associated with emaciation (OR=1.30, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Children with newly diagnosed IBD have poor nutritional status, and the rates of anemia, emaciation, and growth retardation are high. Diagnostic delay is associated with malnutrition in children with IBD.
Humans ; Child ; Colitis, Ulcerative/diagnosis* ; Nutritional Status ; Retrospective Studies ; Emaciation/complications* ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/complications* ; Malnutrition/complications* ; Growth Disorders/complications*

INTRODUCTION: In the face of unchanging high rates of stunting among 12-23 months old Filipino babies, sustaining exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months old remains a challenge. This study determined the effect of a breastfeeding reminder system on breastfeeding. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study. Mothers were regularly given breastfeeding reminders by SMS and phone call. The weight, body length, episodes of upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea were compared between the babies who were given exclusive breastfeeding and those whose exclusive breastfeeding was not sustained. Pearson Chi – square test and t-test at p=0.05 determined significance of differences of variables. RESULTS: From March- October 2020, there were 450 babies included in the study. Of these babies, 44.8% were given exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months. Timely initiation of breastfeeding was practiced by 91.95% of the mothers in the study. Babies who did not receive exclusive breastfeeding were shorter than those who received exclusive breastfeeding at 1 year old (70.11cm +2.78 vs.75.47cm +1.41, p<0.001) and at 2 years old (80.89 cm +2.30 vs. 87.29cm +1.47, p<0.001). At 2 years old, babies who received exclusive breastfeeding had no episodes of diarrhea and minimal (2%, p<0.001) episodes of acute respiratory infections. CONCLUSION Due to the implementation of the reminder system, the percentage of babies exclusively breastfed up to 6 months of age increased to 44%. This is a significant improvement compared to a previous study where only 29% of the babies were exclusively breastfed.At one and two years old, babies who were not exclusively breastfed had stunting, weighed less and had more infections (diarrhea and URTI).
exclusive breastfeeding ; infants ; stunting