Factors affecting stunting in children aged 6-23 months in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia

Ria Andreinie, . and Rini Sekartini, . and Dian Novita Chandra, . and Ninik Mudjihartini, . (2024) Factors affecting stunting in children aged 6-23 months in South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Malaysia), 30 (2). pp. 129-142. ISSN 1394 – 035X

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 available from: Official URL: https://maljnutr.org.my/publication/30-2/Vol%2030(...

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.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	children
AGROVOC Term:	mothers
AGROVOC Term:	anthropometry
AGROVOC Term:	risk assessment
AGROVOC Term:	stunting
AGROVOC Term:	environmental factors
AGROVOC Term:	questionnaires
AGROVOC Term:	nutritional status
AGROVOC Term:	prevalence of undernourishment
Geographical Term:	Indonesia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	birth length, child age, stunting, WAZ status
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	23 Jul 2026 00:42
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2026 00:42
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/4077

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