Determinants of Stunting Children Under Five of Age During the COVID-19 in the Working Area of the Liwuto-Primary Public Health Center, Baubau City-Indonesia: A Community-Based Unmatched Case–Control Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Indonesia, the stunting prevalence has reached 24.4% in 2021. AIM: The study aims to examine the determinants of stunting among children under five of age during the COVID-19 pandemic in the working area of the Liwuto-Primary Public Health Center, Baubau city. METHODS: A community-based unmatched case–control study was conducted from January 10, to March 10, 2022, on a sample of 94, cases (n = 21), and controls (n = 73) of children aged 0–59 months with their respective mothers. Data were collected using a face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire and physical measurements standard. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. The variables were entered into the multivariable model using the backward stepwise regression approach. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with stunting. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and p < 0.05 was used to declare the significance. RESULTS: There are 22% of the stunting become in children under 5 years. Stunting children under 5 years was associated with maternal age (AOR = 5.71, 95%, CI: 1.91–17.03). While family income (AOR = 1.78, 95%, CI: 0.17–18.86), exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 3.95, 95%, CI: 0.14–112.72), complementary feeding (AOR = 1.24, 95%, CI: 0.18–8.55), formal education (AOR = 0.74, 95%, CI: 0.36–1.53), and occupation (AOR = 2.98, 95%, CI: 0.24–36.55) were not associated with the stunting. CONCLUSION: Young mother under 30 years old was an important risk factor on the incidence of stunting in children under 5 years during the COVID-19 pandemic.