Determinant of Stunting Infants Aged 0 – 23 Months : A Cross-Sectional Study in Tangerang

Abstract

Background: Stunting is the most prevalent form of childhood malnutrition, affecting approximately 22% or 148.1 million children under five years old in 2022. Stunting remains a significant public health challenge in Indonesia, affecting approximately 30% of children under five.

Methods: This study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The sampling process utilized a non-probability technique through consecutive sampling. Participants were recruited sequentially based on their attendance at Integrated Health Posts (Posyandu) within the North Larangan Public Health Center's working area until the minimum required sample size of 70 respondents was achieved. Data analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression with a statistical significance level set at p<0.05.

Result: The bivariate analysis revealed that low birth weight was significantly associated with stunting (p-value<0.001), with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 8.88 (95% CI: 2.41–32.68). Maternal education also showed a significant association (p-value=0.032; OR=4.10; 95% CI: 1.06–15.8). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis confirmed that low birth weight was the most dominant factor related to the incidence of stunting in children aged 0–23 months, yielding an adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) of 7.34 (95% CI: 1.83–29.37; p-value=0.005).

Conclusion: The incidence of stunting is not solely determined by postnatal conditions; rather, it is significantly influenced by the intrauterine environment. It is imperative to monitor and optimize maternal nutritional status during pregnancy to mitigate the risk of low birth weight, which subsequently increases the vulnerability to stunting in infants aged 0–23 months.