Peer-reviewed article
Maternal Parenting Practices as a Socio-Cultural Determinant of Stunting and Motor Development among Toddlers in Jeneponto Regency
Sri Wahyuni Bahrum, Andi Syarifah Irmadani, Sitti Hasrah Ibrahim, Kurniati Akhfar, Nurhayani Jamil ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This cross-sectional study looked at how maternal parenting practices relate to stunting and motor development in 44 children aged 24-59 months at one community health center in Jeneponto Regency, Indonesia. Most mothers had sufficient parenting practices (95.5%), and nearly all children (97.7%) were stunted. Parenting practices were significantly associated with stunting, and stunting was significantly associated with delayed motor development. The authors suggest that early interventions combining parenting education and nutritional support are important.
Key points
- 42 of 44 children (95.5%) had mothers with sufficient parenting practices; only 2 (4.5%) had good practices.
- 43 of 44 children (97.7%) were classified as stunted.
- Maternal parenting practices were significantly associated with stunting (p = 0.045).
- Stunting was significantly associated with delayed motor development (p = 0.035).
- Severely stunted children tended to have more delays in motor skills.
Limitations
The sample is very small (44 children) from a single health center and chosen purposively, and almost all children were stunted, so comparisons are weak and cannot be generalised. A cross-sectional design shows association only, not cause and effect, and no intervention was tested.
Abstract
Stunting is a chronic nutritional condition that can impair physical growth and motor development in early childhood, with maternal parenting practices considered an important factor influencing its occurrence. This study aimed to examine the association between maternal parenting practices, stunting, and motor skill development among children aged 24-59 months at Bontomate’ne Community Health Center, Jeneponto Regency, Indonesia. A quantitative cross sectional design was employed involving 44 children selected through purposive sampling. Maternal parenting practices were assessed using a structured questionnaire, nutritional status was determined based on height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ), and motor development was evaluated using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST). Associations between variables were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test. The findings showed that most others demonstrated sufficient parenting practices, accounting for 42 children (95.5%), while good parenting practices were identified in only 2 children (4.5%). Of the total participants, 43 children (97.7%) were classified as stunted. A significant association was found between maternal parenting practices and stunting (p = 0.045). Stunting was also significantly associated with delayed motor development (p = 0.035), with severely stunted children showing a greater tendency to experience delays in motor skills. These findings indicate that maternal parenting practices are associated with the risk of stunting, which is subsequently related to motor development in young children. Therefore, early interventions integrating parenting education and nutritional support are important to prevent stunting and promote optimal growth and motor development during early childhood.