Exclusive Breastfeeding and Stunting

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 97 views

Introduction

Stunting is a condition of failure that often occurs in infants and children under five, especially in Indonesia. This is caused by chronic malnutrition for the first 1000 days of life, which includes pregnancy until the age of two years. Stunting causes children to have lower height than their age standards. Although malnutrition can occur since the womb, stunting symptoms are often seen after the child reaches the age of two years. In Indonesia, the prevalence of stunting is still very high, especially among children aged 2 to 5 years.

Risk Factors for Stunting

Several risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of stunting include inadequate nutritional intake, history of infectious diseases, low birth weight infants (BBLR), lack of body length, exclusive breastfeeding, nutritional status and maternal health, maternal knowledge about nutrition, sanitation, cleanliness, and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, it is essential to conduct in-depth research on these factors in order to find effective solutions.

Methodology

In a descriptive study conducted in the working area of the Secanggang Puskesmas with a cross-sectional design, a purposive sample was taken. The results showed that 48.1% of toddlers had a history of infectious diseases such as ARI, 66.7% of mothers did not provide exclusive breastfeeding to their children, and 85.2% of parents came from low-income circles. This finding confirms that non-exclusive breastfeeding is the dominant factor causing the incidence of stunting in toddlers in Secanggang District. Children who do not get exclusive breastfeeding have the risk of nine times greater to experience stunting compared to those who get exclusive breastfeeding.

Exclusive Breastfeeding and Stunting

Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is one of the important recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). ASI not only provides the nutrients needed by babies, but also has an immunological component that helps increase endurance and prevent infection. When babies do not get exclusive breastfeeding, they become more vulnerable to disease, which can worsen their nutritional conditions and lead to stunting.

Socioeconomic Factors and Stunting

Socioeconomic factors also play a crucial role in stunting. Families with low income often face difficulties in meeting sufficient nutritional needs, so that their children are more at risk of stunting. It is essential for the government and related institutions to improve educational and support programs for mothers, especially in terms of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing knowledge about nutrition.

Sanitation and Environmental Cleanliness

Sanitation and environmental cleanliness is equally important in preventing infectious diseases that contribute to stunting. By improving access to decent sanitation and good cleaning practices, can reduce the risk of infection among toddlers.

Conclusion

In dealing with this complex stunting problem, cooperation is needed between various parties, including the government, non-governmental organizations, and the community. By overcoming the identified risk factors, it is expected that the prevalence of stunting in Secanggang District, and also in Indonesia in general, can be reduced significantly.

Recommendations

Improving Exclusive Breastfeeding: The government and related institutions should improve educational and support programs for mothers, especially in terms of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing knowledge about nutrition.
Enhancing Socioeconomic Status: Families with low income should be provided with support and resources to meet their nutritional needs.
Improving Sanitation and Environmental Cleanliness: Access to decent sanitation and good cleaning practices should be improved to reduce the risk of infection among toddlers.
Collaboration and Cooperation: The government, non-governmental organizations, and the community should work together to overcome the identified risk factors and reduce the prevalence of stunting.

Future Research Directions

Longitudinal Study: A longitudinal study should be conducted to track the growth and development of children over time and identify the risk factors that contribute to stunting.
Intervention Study: An intervention study should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding and other interventions in reducing the prevalence of stunting.
Qualitative Study: A qualitative study should be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural factors that contribute to stunting.

Q: What is stunting, and how does it affect children?

A: Stunting is a condition of failure that often occurs in infants and children under five, especially in Indonesia. It is caused by chronic malnutrition for the first 1000 days of life, which includes pregnancy until the age of two years. Stunting causes children to have lower height than their age standards.

Q: What are the risk factors for stunting in toddlers?

A: Several risk factors that contribute to the occurrence of stunting include inadequate nutritional intake, history of infectious diseases, low birth weight infants (BBLR), lack of body length, exclusive breastfeeding, nutritional status and maternal health, maternal knowledge about nutrition, sanitation, cleanliness, and socioeconomic factors.

Q: What is the role of exclusive breastfeeding in preventing stunting?

A: Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life is one of the important recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). ASI not only provides the nutrients needed by babies, but also has an immunological component that helps increase endurance and prevent infection.

Q: How does socioeconomic status affect the risk of stunting in toddlers?

A: Families with low income often face difficulties in meeting sufficient nutritional needs, so that their children are more at risk of stunting. It is essential for the government and related institutions to improve educational and support programs for mothers, especially in terms of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing knowledge about nutrition.

Q: What is the importance of sanitation and environmental cleanliness in preventing stunting?

A: Sanitation and environmental cleanliness is equally important in preventing infectious diseases that contribute to stunting. By improving access to decent sanitation and good cleaning practices, can reduce the risk of infection among toddlers.

Q: How can the prevalence of stunting in Secanggang District be reduced?

A: By overcoming the identified risk factors, it is expected that the prevalence of stunting in Secanggang District, and also in Indonesia in general, can be reduced significantly. This can be achieved through improving exclusive breastfeeding, enhancing socioeconomic status, improving sanitation and environmental cleanliness, and collaboration and cooperation between various parties.

Q: What are the recommendations for reducing the prevalence of stunting in Secanggang District?

A: The recommendations include:

Improving Exclusive Breastfeeding: The government and related institutions should improve educational and support programs for mothers, especially in terms of exclusive breastfeeding and increasing knowledge about nutrition.
Enhancing Socioeconomic Status: Families with low income should be provided with support and resources to meet their nutritional needs.
Improving Sanitation and Environmental Cleanliness: Access to decent sanitation and good cleaning practices should be improved to reduce the risk of infection among toddlers.
Collaboration and Cooperation: The government, non-governmental organizations, and the community should work together to overcome the identified risk factors and reduce the prevalence of stunting.

Q: What are the future research directions for reducing the prevalence of stunting in Secanggang District?

A: The future research directions include:

Longitudinal Study: A longitudinal study should be conducted to track the growth and development of children over time and identify the risk factors that contribute to stunting.
Intervention Study: An intervention study should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of exclusive breastfeeding and other interventions in reducing the prevalence of stunting.
Qualitative Study: A qualitative study should be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic and cultural factors that contribute to stunting.