Birth Length is a Dominant Risk Factor of Stunting among Children Aged 6-59 months in North Moyo Sub District, Sumbawa District West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is still a problem of public health that occurs in the area of North Moyo
Subdistrict, Sumbawa District.
Objective: This analysis aims to determine the major factors of stunting among children aged 6-59 months
in North Moyo Subdistrict, Sumbawa District.
Materials and Method: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design. Chi-square statistical
test was conducted to identify the incidence of stunting in children aged 6-59 months and the major factors
associated with stunting in children aged 6-59 months. Statistical test results were declared significant if the
p-value was less than 0.100. There were 406 children aged 6-59 months as sample.
Results: The prevalence of stunting was 34.9%.Several significant variables related to stunting are age, birth
length, integrated health care visits, smoke, and mother’s education (p<0.05). Birth length is a dominant
factor of stunting after being controlled by age, visit to integrated health care, smoke and mother’s education.
Conclusions: Efforts from the government are needed to improve nutrition programs that focus on efforts
to prepare mothers since prior to pregnancy; improve nutrition programs related to nutrition education and
promotion of balanced nutrition for the community that not only to mothers, but also to fathers; and improve
the Hygienic and Healthy Behavior-related education in the community.