Abstract
Purpose The prevalence of stunting in children under five years old is high (37.9 percent). The health advantage of breast milk as a prevention is recognized. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship of early initiation to breastfeeding, wherein a child is breastfed within an hour of birth, as a means of preventing stunted growth in 6–59 month old children in Jambi province, Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This paper used data from the 2015 National Nutrition Survey in Jambi province. A total of 2,502 children aged 6–59 months were analyzed by binary logistic regression. Findings The results showed that as many as 27.5 percent (95% CI: 25.2–29.9) children aged 6–59 months were stunted and 54.1 percent (95% CI: 51.1–57.1) had not been introduced to breastfeeding soon after birth. The analysis showed that delayed initiation to breastfeeding is a significant factor in stunting amongst 6–59 month old children. (p=0.024; AOR=1.3; 95% CI: 1.0–1.6). Other results of the analysis showed a significant association between water source and birth weight issues as causes for stunting. Originality/value Research revealed that delayed initiation into breastfeeding results in a 1.3 times higher risk of stunting. Furthermore, early initiation to breastfeeding reduces the risk of consuming polluted river water that is a health risk and cause of stunting.
Highlights
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between early initiation to breastfeeding with stunting in children 6–59 months
Stunting in children 6–59 months A total of 27.5 percent children aged 6–59 months are stunted in Jambi province, Indonesia, in 2015
Stunting in children 6–59 months Based on the research results, it is known that 27.5 percent of children aged 6–59 months were stunted in Jambi province in 2015
Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between early initiation to breastfeeding with stunting in children 6–59 months. Stunting in children under five years is a global problem, mainly experienced in developing countries. The results of a joint UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO) and World Bank analysis of 142 national survey results of poor and developing countries, found that in 2011, stunting prevalence affected 165 million children with an estimated 127 million children under five projected to be stunted by 2025[1, 2]. Stunting in under-five children is a problem in Indonesia where basic health research (Riskesdas) revealed the high prevalence of stunting in under fives in 2007, 2010 and 2013 by 36.8, 35.6 and 37.2 percent[3,4,5]. Stunting creates a barrier to the forming and development of organs and has a short term impact on mortality, morbidity and disability.
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