Peer-reviewed article
Association Between Dietary Patterns and Severity of Stunting Among Children Aged 6– 24 Months in Bagi Community Health Center Catchment Area, Central Lombok Regency
Baiq Nur Lathifatuzzahrah, Lina Nurbaiti, Wiwin Lastyana, Zikrul Haikal ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looked at whether the variety of foods children eat is linked to how severe their stunting is. It surveyed 43 mothers of children aged 6–24 months in the Bagu health center area of Central Lombok, Indonesia. All of the children were stunted: 62.8% were stunted and 37.2% were severely stunted. Most children (58.1%) had low dietary diversity. The study found no significant link between dietary diversity and stunting severity, although children with diverse diets tended to be less likely to be severely stunted.
Key points
- 43 mothers of children aged 6–24 months took part, selected by total sampling.
- 62.8% of children were stunted and 37.2% were severely stunted.
- 58.1% of children had low dietary diversity and 41.9% had diverse diets.
- No significant association between dietary diversity and stunting severity (p = 0.655).
- Diverse diets showed a lower tendency toward severe stunting (OR = 0.750; 95% CI: 0.212–2.656), and the authors call for improving dietary diversity through locally available foods.
Limitations
The sample is very small (43 children) and drawn from one health center area, and the cross-sectional design cannot show cause and effect. The wide confidence interval means the study cannot say whether diverse diets truly reduce severe stunting.
Abstract
Stunting is a long-term nutritional issue and a serious public health issue, especially for young children under two. In order to meet nutrient requirements and promote linear growth, dietary diversification is crucial. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary diversity, measured using the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS), and stunting among children aged 6–24 months in the working area of Bagu Primary Health Center, Central Lombok Regency. An analytic observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 43 mothers of children aged 6–24 months using total sampling. Dietary diversity was assessed using a structured questionnaire based on nine food groups recommended by the FAO, while stunting status was determined from anthropometric records in the Maternal and Child Health handbook. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Of the 43 children, 62.8% were stunted and 37.2% were severely stunted. Most children (58.1%) had low dietary diversity, while 41.9% had diverse diets. No significant association was found between dietary diversity and stunting severity (p = 0.655). However, diverse diets showed a lower tendency toward severe stunting (OR = 0.750; 95% CI: 0.212–2.656). The findings highlight the need to improve dietary diversity through locally available food sources.