Characteristics of stunting in children in the Kintamani III Community Health Center area, Bangli District

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a chronic physical growth disorder in children characterized by a decrease in growth rate and is influenced by nutritional imbalances over a long period with a WHO MGRS z-score value of less than -2 SD. This condition has a fairly high incidence rate in Indonesia, especially in Bangli, Bali, which is caused by various factors. This research was conducted to determine the characteristics of stunting in children in the Kintamani III Community Health Center area, Bangli district. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study from February to December 2022. The parameters assessed in this study are family income, maternal education, additional food, birth weight, history of infection, exclusive breastfeeding, high genetic potential, environmental sanitation, mother age, gender, and birth spacing. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. Results: There were 70 children with stunting were involved in this research. The research subjects were mostly female (55.7%), the highest birth weight distribution was in the range of 2500-4000 grams (90%), there was no history of infection (88.6%), exclusive breastfeeding was given for 6 months or more ( 92.9%), birth interval more than or equal to 2 years (77.1%), additional food given 3 times a day (80%) which is higher in stunting population compare to severely stunting, average genetic potential height 159.36 + 8.03, mother's age 20-35 years (81.4%), maternal high school education (32.4%), family income above minimum wage (UMK) (87.1%). Conclusion: This research shows that patients with severe stunting tend to have a lower frequency of additional food.