Peer-reviewed article
Maternal, Child, and Household Risk Factors for Children with Stunting
Lisa Adhia Garina, Miranti Kania Dewi, Siti Annisa Devi Trusda, Wida Purbaningsih, Heni Muflihah et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined risk factors for stunting in 122 children from West Bandung Regency, Indonesia, finding that 73% were stunted. Low birth weight, low parental education, lack of maternal tetanus immunization, insufficient protein intake, and diarrhea were significant risk factors. The research highlights that stunting is driven by nutritional deficiency and preventable health problems that affect children's development and long-term health outcomes.
Key points
- Out of 119 evaluable children, 87 were stunted (73%), with 44 stunted and 43 severely stunted
- Most stunted children were boys aged 24-59 months from families with low parental education
- Significant risk factors included low birth weight, lack of maternal tetanus immunization, and insufficient animal-based protein intake
- Multivariate analysis identified age, protein deficiency, and diarrhea as critical predictors of stunting
- The study recommends targeted nutritional interventions and healthcare strategies focusing on protein intake and diarrhea management
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study with a small sample size (122 children from 10 villages in one regency), which limits generalizability beyond this specific area. The study identifies associations but cannot establish causal relationships or compare intervention effectiveness.
Abstract
Background Stunting is a major public health issue in Indonesia. It affects children's physical and cognitive development, educational outcomes, and quality of life, increasing the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Addressing the determinants of stunting is vital for achieving the sustainable development goal of zero hunger. Objective The study aims to identify maternal, child, and household risk factors for stunting in West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 122 children from 10 villages in the Padalarang area. Stunting status was measured by a doctor and verified by a pediatrician based on WHO growth standards. The demography, household, maternal, and child risk factors were collected using the standard Indonesia Basic Household Health Research (Riskesdas) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was used for the Chi-square and Fisher Exact test, while logistic regression was used to determine a model on the most important risk factors. Data analysis was done using the SPSS v.25 program. Results Out of 119 evaluable datasets, 87 children were classified as stunted, with 44 stunted and 43 severely stunted. The majority of stunting was observed in boys aged 24‒59 months, mostly with low parental education levels and underweight status. Significant risk factors for stunting included a history of low birth weight, lack of maternal immunization against Tetanus Toxoid, and insufficient intake of animal-based proteins. The multivariate analysis identified age, protein deficiency, and diarrhea as critical predictors. Conclusion Stunting is predominantly influenced by demographic factors, low parental educational level, nutritional insufficiency, and diarrhea. Targeted nutritional interventions and healthcare strategies focusing on protein intake and managing diarrhea among young children can effectively mitigate stunting rates in this region.