An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among a randomly selected sample of 374 households with at least one child aged 6 to 59 months in the Kirundo health district, Burundi. Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, socio-sanitary factors, food insecurity, behavioral, and environmental data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Children's weight was measured using a standard procedure (SECA scale), their height using a standard UNICEF height rod, and their age was obtained from the birth certificate. Anthropometric data were analyzed using Emergency Nutrition Assessment (ENA for Smart) software. Modeling was performed using logistic regression to eliminate confounding factors, and all independent variables with a significance level less than or equal to 20% in the bivariate analysis were included to explore factors associated with stunting in children aged 6 to 59 months. In this study, the prevalence of stunting is estimated at 61.5%. According to multivariate logistic regression, sex (AOR = 2.83; 95% CI:1.40-5.75), age (AOR= 10.40; 95% CI: 1.21-88.30), food insecurity (AOR = 10.47;95% CI: 3.58-30.61), latrine type (AOR = 6.83; 95% CI: 3.12-14.94), diarrhea (AOR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.19-5.48), water source (AOR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.54-6.52), media exposure (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.11-0.51), nutritional knowledge (AOR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.05-0.25), birth spacing (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.16-0.93), complete vaccination (AOR = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.21), father's occupation (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.09-0.72), and mother's education (AOR = 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07-0.64) were significantly associated with stunting. The predictive model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.95, indicating excellent discrimination ability. The high prevalence of stunting in this study highlights the importance of urgent action to end this problem.
Nzigamasabo Aloys, Ndayikengurukiye Honoré, Nizigama Chris Tresor et al.
Background :The World Health Organization Nutrition Guidelines recommend that exclusive breastfeeding can be given until 6 months, continuing breastfeeding until 2 years of age, and add complementary foods for their child. This Community Empowerment held on May to July 2023 in Pesanggrahan District to reduce Stunting rates. Nutrition Diary in Overcoming Stunting (DIGIDAU) is an innovation to improve toddler nutrition by recording 24 hour food recalls every day for 5 weeks by mothers of toddlers.Objective: To aim the impact of "DIGIDAU" to reduce the incidence of malnutrition & stunting in children under five years by recording dietary patterns and improving parenting knowledge in Pesanggrahan.Method: A quantitative experimental research using a pre-experimental design study. One Group Pretest Posttest Design was used. The experimental group received treatment using the "DIGIDAU" where respondent were assessed by their daily nutrition status before given treatment, the toddler's nutritional status is first checked (Pretest) and after being given treatment, the nutritional status is also checked again (posttest). The respondents for this research were 20 toddlers lived in Pesanggrahan who met the research criteria.Results: Before the intervention, the respondents had poor knowledge around 17 mothers (85%). After the intervention, 20 mothers (100%) increase in knowledge. So that there was an impact of the counseling and training interventions on mother’s knowledge of parenting with P value =0.00 (< 0.05). Meanwhile, by recording dietary patterns & weight monitoring, there were 4 toddlers who experienced an increase in weight status according to age (Weight/age) from Underweight to Normal Weight. During the 5 weeks of the program, there was an increase in weight and height.Conclusion: The innovation of the Nutrition Diary in Overcoming Stunting “DIGIDAU” Program significantly increased the mother’s knowledge and the nutritional status of malnutrition and stunted toddlers.Keywords: Stunted; Nutritional status; Toddlers; Parenting knowledge
Background Child stunting remains a major public health issue in Pakistan, with structural and socioeconomic determinants driving outcomes. While maternal education and empowerment have been widely studied, the role of maternal occupation type (professional vs. non-professional) in shaping child nutritional status remains unclear. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 420 mother–child pairs (<5 years) attending two hospitals in Karachi. Maternal occupation was categorized as professional/technical/managerial vs. non-professional/unemployed. Child nutritional status was assessed using WHO criteria. Chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression were employed to examine associations, adjusting for confounders (education, income, family structure, empowerment). Results Overall, 44.2% of children were stunted. Children of professionally employed mothers had significantly lower stunting prevalence (29.4%) compared to non-professional/unemployed mothers (47.1%; χ²=8.12, p=0.004). Adjusted logistic regression confirmed the protective effect of professional maternal occupation against stunting (aOR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31–0.87, p=0.012). Subgroup analyses revealed the protective effect was stronger in boys (aOR=0.44, CI: 0.23–0.83) than girls (aOR=0.61, CI: 0.33–1.15). Interaction models suggested maternal education amplified the occupation effect. Conclusions Professional maternal occupation independently reduces child stunting risk, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Policies promoting women’s entry into professional sectors may provide downstream benefits for child nutrition.
<p><strong><em>Background: </em></strong><em>In Indonesia, socioeconomic disparities in childhood stunting is vast.</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em>Objectives: </em></strong><em>This study aimed to analyze the social determinants of stunting and severe stunting children in Indonesia.</em></p><p><strong><em>Methods: </em></strong><em>We analyzed data from cross-sectional surveys of Indonesia’s National Basic Health Research in 2013, the Central Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Finance. Our samples were 3953 children aged 6-23 months and 10215 children aged 24-59 months. Dependent variables were the prevalence of child stunting and severe stunting. Independent variables covered factors at the social level while controlling structural and biological level-factors. Data were analyzed using multilevel analysis using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM).</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em>Results: </em></strong><em>Gross domestic product was associated with the reduced risk of stunting among children aged 6-23 months (ARRR= 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-1.00) and 24-59 months (ARRR= 0.99; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99) as well as with the decreased risk of severe stunting among 6-23 months (ARRR= 0.99; 95%CI: 0.98-1.00) and 24-59 months (ARRR= 0.99; 95%CI: 0.97-0.99) old children. Tax ratio was a significant factor only for the severe stunting among 24-59 months old children (ARRR= 0.98; 95%CI: 0.96-0.99). There was also a geographical difference related to stunting and severe stunting.</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em>Conclusions: </em></strong><em>Equitable economic growth is an essential factor to improve the health and welfare of stunting and severe stunting children across the geographical setting in Indonesia.</em></p><p><em> </em></p>
Tri Siswati, Lukman Waris, Bunga Astria Paramashanti et al.
Background: This study seeks to provide a comprehensive review of existing literature on the application of mobile health (mHealth) technologies in efforts to prevent, monitor, and reduce the prevalence of childhood stunting. Additionally, it aims to explore the key challenges associated with implementing these digital health interventions. Methods: The literature review was carried out by systematically searching six major databases—PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, SAGE, ProQuest, and Google Scholar—for relevant articles published between February 2015 and February 2025. The inclusion criteria encompassed original, English-language studies that employed either quantitative or qualitative methodologies, focusing on digital applications for the prevention, monitoring, or management of childhood stunting. Only freely accessible full-text articles were considered. Studies that relied solely on traditional, non-digital approaches were excluded. The article selection process adhered to the PRISMA flow diagram, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. From an initial pool of 5,797 articles, a structured screening process was conducted using the Rayyan AI platform, culminating in the selection of seven studies for in-depth analysis. Results: Thematic analysis identified five central themes: (1) improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP); (2) enhanced growth monitoring and early detection of stunting; (3) the vital role of community support and health cadres; (4) the overall effectiveness of mHealth interventions; and (5) implementation challenges within vulnerable populations. The findings highlight the substantial potential of mHealth applications in preventing childhood stunting, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Notably, applications such as SCATION and Nutritional Rangers have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing KAP and improving children’s nutritional outcomes. Conclusion: Integrating mHealth into maternal and child health programs at the community level is essential. Furthermore, supportive policy frameworks and additional research are necessary to overcome existing barriers to implementation.
Abstract Stunting (length‐for‐age z score < −2) before 2 years of age has shown associations with poor child developmental indicators, but information at the population level is scarce in South Asia, the region with the highest burden of stunting. We examined associations between z scores (i.e., height for age [HAZ], weight for age [WAZ], and weight for height [WHZ]) and undernutrition (i.e., stunting [HAZ < −2], wasting [WHZ < −2], and underweight [WAZ < −2]) with learning/cognition and social–emotional development among children 36–59 months of age. Data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in Bangladesh ( n = 8,659), Bhutan ( n = 2,038), Nepal ( n = 2,253), and Pakistan (Punjab n = 11,369 and Sindh n = 6,718) were used. Children were considered developmentally “on‐track” in learning/cognition or social–emotional domains if they met specific early child development criteria. Meta‐analysis was conducted to examine regional associations, adjusting for socio‐economic status, early childhood education, and quality of care. In a pooled sample, on‐track learning/cognition development was positively associated with HAZ ( OR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.07, 1.27]) and WAZ ( OR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.07, 1.31]) and negatively associated with stunting ( OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.60, 0.86]) and underweight ( OR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.66, 0.86]) but not associated with WHZ or wasting. On‐track development of social–emotional domain was not associated with any z scores or undernutrition indicators. Across several countries of South Asia, stunted children were less likely to be developmentally “on track” for learning/cognition. It is likely that interventions that prevent stunting may benefit child development, leading to significant individual and societal gains given the large burden of child stunting in regions like South Asia.
Yunhee Kang, Víctor M. Aguayo, Rebecca K. Campbell et al.
IntroductionEver since the 1960s, Guatemala has been a principle site for global academic research on child growth and nutrition. Nevertheless, Guatemala still has one of the highest rates of child stunting in the world. Since 2012, Guatemala has had a comprehensive national policy on stunting, calling for a renewed investment in innovative, multilevel nutrition interventions and implementation science. Our objective was to perform a systematic search and scoping review of the literature on stunting in Guatemala to identify gaps in research and opportunities for responding to this unique policy opportunity.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search and scoping review on stunting in Guatemala, searching the PubMed, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases. Eligible articles were of any design or format, published in English and Spanish from 2000 to 2018. Articles were thematically grouped by those published before (2000–2011) and after (2012–2018) the new national policy initiatives.ResultsWe identified a total of 1934 articles through database searches. After full-text review, 104 were included in the synthesis. The volume of published articles on stunting increased from a mean of 3.2 to 9.4 articles/year before and after 2012. There was a shift toward articles generating new data on priority populations, including rural indigenous Maya populations (34% vs 61%, χ2 test, p=0.01). However, the proportion of studies conducting implementation evaluations or testing new interventions was low and did not change significantly (34% vs 18%, χ2 test, p=0.07). Among 17 identified intervention studies, only 4 tested multilevel interventions, and there were no published interventions incorporating nutrition-sensitive interventions.ConclusionsA systematic search and scoping review of the literature on child stunting in Guatemala identified critical opportunities for new research in multilevel interventions, nutrition-sensitive interventions and implementation science.
Ana Cordon, Gabriela Asturias, Thomas De Vries et al.
A cross-sectional descriptive design study was conducted in the pediatric hospital in Al-Hasahisa-Algazera state -Sudan, to ascertain the prevalence of stunting in children under five years old. There are 100 patients in the samples (46 girls and 54 males). The questionnaire used to collect the study's primary data includes questions about participant content, sociodemographics, housing status, health, and nutrition. To estimate the patient's percentage of stunting, anthropometric measures, including height/length for age and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), were also obtained. The data showed that most of the children were raised in nuclear homes. A significant correlation (P value <0.05) was seen between stunting and mother education. The parents' educational attainment showed that a sizable percentage of fathers (52%) and mothers (45%) were illiterate. According to the findings, 82% of mothers were housewives, and 75% of fathers were employed. This finding demonstrated a significant (P value 0.004) relationship between income level and stunting, with weak income (22%), moderate-income (78%), and no income level. Furthermore, 36% of completed breastfeeders and 37% of non-completers showed a highly significant (P value 0.003) correlation between breastfeeding and stunting. During the course of the study, diarrheal diseases affected 68% of the children, while anemia (27%), malaria (52%), parasitic infections (17%), and chest infections (69%)were the most common conditions. 39% of the kids had severe malnutrition, and 18% had moderate malnutrition. The bulk of them, 78%, were stunted, with the remaining 19% mild, 11% moderate, and 48% severely stunted. According to the report, 35% of stunted children were female, and 43% of stunted children were male.
Background: The ability to access food according to needs is influenced by educational and knowledge factors, socio-cultural, geography, and economic factors. Overcoming stunting not only overcomes the problem of malnutrition but also must pay attention to the problem of affordability or access to nutritious food Objectives: To analyze access to nutritious food in the prevention system stunting in Lumajang Regency Methods: Qualitative research through a Case Study approach conducted in two villages in Lumajang Regency. The research informants consisted of key informants namely the Head of the Puskesmas, the main informants were mother with toddler Stunting and additional informants namely stakeholders related to stunting. Data processing and analysis using the Thematic Content Analysis method. Results: Access to nutritious food that is less than optimal is caused by economic factors that are lacking, lack of knowledge of mothers of toddlers, malnutrition in toddlers, children's eating arrangements are not meeting nutritional adequacy, children's consumption in a day is lacking, families do not take action to overcome children's nutritional problems and poor sanitation and environmental health Conclusions: Stunting in Lumajang Regency is the cause of which is access to nutritious food that is less than optimal so that it requires attention and cooperation from all parties to overcome it. The provision of education in the form of counseling needs to be carried out with multimethods and multi-media as well as integrated countermeasurements from all existing resources will accelerate the reduction of stunting cases in Lumajang Regency.
Child stunting in the Philippines remains a pressing health and education crisis, undermining children’s growth, learning capacity, and future productivity. Despite constitutional guarantees and laws such as the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag Nanay Act, the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Act, weak implementation has left millions of children vulnerable. Recent jurisprudence, including the consolidated cases of Pimentel III, Colmenares, and 1SAMBAYAN (2025), affirms that the right to health entails enforceable state obligations, situating stunting as a constitutional violation. Empirical evidence highlights maternal health and socio economic disparities as key drivers of malnutrition, while learning poverty remains alarmingly high. This paper argues that eradicating stunting requires decisive national action, stronger accountability, and sustained investment in maternal and child health programs to secure the country’s human capital.
