Analysis of maternal factors and food security with the incidence of stunting in children 0-59 months of age in Sungai Penuh City

Abstract

The high incidence of stunting is the leading cause of death in children under five in the world. One of the urban areas in Indonesia that has experienced an increase in the prevalence of stunting is Sungai Penuh City. Stunting is caused by a long-term nutritional deficiency in the mother due to inadequate food supply due to low household food security, besides that stunting can also occur due to the reproductive condition of the mother who is not ready to conceive. This cross-sectional study aims to analyze maternal factors and food security that have the most influence on the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 0-59 months in Sungai Penuh City using data from the 2022 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey conducted in August-September 2022. The sample was 308 toddlers living in urban areas. The data were analyzed using descriptive non-parametric statistical tests with the Chi-square test and the Logistic Regression test. The results of this study prove that short maternal stature has a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting in toddlers (p<0.05), while chronic energy deficiency mothers, maternal age, and food security do not have a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting in toddlers in urban areas (p>0.05). Maternal short stature is an indicator of past chronic malnutrition and a major predictor of stunting in children under five.