Peer-reviewed article

The Biopsychosocial Determinants of Stunting and Wasting in Children Aged 12-48 Months

Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Ria Muji Rahayu, Eti Poncorini Pamungkasari, CSP Wekadigunawan, Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret · 1 Jan 2018

Abstract

Background: Stunting and wasting are a growth disorder in children under five years of age caused by malnutrition.Stunting is generally caused by recurrent acute malnutrition, whereas wasting occurs due to short-term malnutrition.If untreated properly, stunting and wasting may cause low intelligence in adult life.This study aimed to analyze the biopsychosocial determinants of stunting and wasting in children aged 12-48 months.Subjects and Method: This was an analytic observational study with a case-control design.The study was conducted at Mulya Asri, Panaragan, and Dayamurni community health centers, from January to February 2018.A sample of 150 children under-five was selected for this study by fixed disease sampling.The dependent variables were stunting and wasting.The independent variables were birthweight, maternal knowledge, maternal education, maternal nutritional status (midupper arm circumference/ MUAC), exclusive breastfeeding, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, lack of clean water, poor sanitation.The data were collected by questionnaire and maternal and child health monitoring book.The data were analyzed by a logistic regression.Results: The risk of stunting increased with poor maternal knowledge (OR= 5.29; 95% CI= 1.30 to 21.54; p=0.002), low maternal education (OR=10.25;95%CI= 2.26 to 46.79; p=0.003), poor maternal nutritional status (OR= 8.87; 95% CI= 2.14 to 36.74; p=0.003), low birthweight rendah (OR= 9.86; 95% CI= 2.60 to 37.47; p=0.001), infants receiveing no exclusive breastfeeding (OR= 5.70; 95% CI= 1.59 to 20.46; p=0.008).The risk of wasting increased with poor knowledge (OR= 10.95; 95% CI= 2.14 to 56.91; p= 0.004), low family income (OR= 7.04; 95% CI= 5.51 to 32.78; p=0.013), low birthweight (OR= 14.71; 95% CI= 2.74 to 79.06; p=0.002),URTI history (OR= 4.87; 95% CI= 1.23 to 19.38; p=0.024), diarrhea (OR= 6.09; 95% CI= 1.42 to 26.20; p=0.015), a lack of clean water (OR= 9.78; 95% CI= 2.26 to 42.36; p=0.002), and poor sanitation (OR= 7.67; 95% CI= 1.85 to 31.75; p=0.004).Conclusion: Stunting and wasting are affected by birthweight, URTI history, diarrhea, maternal nutritional status, maternal knowledge, maternal education, family income, lack of clean water, and poor sanitation.