The Level of Sensitivity and Specificity of the Growth Curve of Indonesian Children in Diagnosing Stunting Compared to the WHO Growth Standards 2006

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 136 views

The Level of Sensitivity and Specificity of the Growth Curve of Indonesian Children in Diagnosing Stunting Compared to the WHO Growth Standards 2006

Introduction

Stunting is a condition that shows a linear growth disorder caused by chronic malnutrition, recurrent infection, and lack of psychosocial stimulation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released growth standards in 2006 to monitor children's growth. However, until now, Indonesia does not have a clear recommendation regarding the use of Indonesian children's growth curves as an approach to monitoring the growth of children in the country. This study aims to analyze the proportion of stunting, and determine the sensitivity and specificity of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting and risk factors.

Background

Stunting is a significant public health problem in Indonesia, affecting millions of children. It is a condition that can have long-term consequences on a child's health, education, and economic prospects. The WHO growth standards 2006 provide a reference for assessing growth and development in children. However, the use of these standards may not be suitable for all populations, particularly in developing countries like Indonesia. The growth curve of Indonesian children may provide a more accurate representation of growth and development in this population.

Methodology

A diagnostic study was conducted in Lawe Alas District, Southeast Aceh, Indonesia, from December 2017 to May 2018. Participants involved in the study were children aged between 1 to 59 months who met the inclusion criteria. The sampling technique in this study is Consecutive Sampling, where the subject is taken in sequence until the desired amount is achieved. The study aimed to determine the proportion of stunting, sensitivity, and specificity of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting and risk factors.

Results

The results of the study showed that of the 141 subjects studied, 66 children (46.8%) were diagnosed with stunting based on WHO Growth Standards 2006, while 51 children (34.8%) were diagnosed with stunting using the growth curve of Indonesian children. The sensitivity found in this study was 75.5% and its specificity was 98.66%. This finding also shows a significant statistical difference in the proportion of stunting, where the P value obtained is less than 0.001, shows that the proportion of stunting based on the growth curve of Indonesian children is lower compared to the WHO Growth Standards 2006.

Discussion

The results of this study suggest that the growth curve of Indonesian children can be used as a specific and sensitive tool to measure growth and diagnose stunting in children in Indonesia. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have shown that growth curves can be used to monitor growth and development in children. The use of the growth curve of Indonesian children may provide a more accurate representation of growth and development in this population, particularly in the context of stunting.

Conclusion

The growth curve of Indonesian children can be used as a specific and sensitive tool to measure growth and diagnose stunting in children in Indonesia. This finding has significant implications for the prevention and management of stunting in Indonesia. The development of growth standards in accordance with Indonesia's population is very important to overcome the problem of nutrition and stunting in this country. With the relevant growth curve, it is expected that more appropriate responses can be made in efforts to prevent and handle stunting and malnutrition in children. This of course will also have a positive impact on the health and development of children in Indonesia, which is a long-term investment for the nation's future.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The growth curve of Indonesian children should be used as a specific and sensitive tool to measure growth and diagnose stunting in children in Indonesia.
The development of growth standards in accordance with Indonesia's population is very important to overcome the problem of nutrition and stunting in this country.
More research is needed to validate the use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting and risk factors.
The use of the growth curve of Indonesian children should be integrated into the national health program to prevent and manage stunting in Indonesia.

Limitations

This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the study was conducted in a specific region of Indonesia, and the findings may not be generalizable to other regions. Secondly, the study used a consecutive sampling technique, which may not be representative of the entire population. Finally, the study did not control for other factors that may affect growth and development in children.

Future Directions

This study provides a foundation for future research on the use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting and risk factors. Future studies should aim to validate the use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in different populations and settings. Additionally, future studies should investigate the effectiveness of using the growth curve of Indonesian children in preventing and managing stunting in Indonesia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides evidence that the growth curve of Indonesian children can be used as a specific and sensitive tool to measure growth and diagnose stunting in children in Indonesia. The findings of this study have significant implications for the prevention and management of stunting in Indonesia. The development of growth standards in accordance with Indonesia's population is very important to overcome the problem of nutrition and stunting in this country. With the relevant growth curve, it is expected that more appropriate responses can be made in efforts to prevent and handle stunting and malnutrition in children. This of course will also have a positive impact on the health and development of children in Indonesia, which is a long-term investment for the nation's future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Use of the Growth Curve of Indonesian Children in Diagnosing Stunting

Q: What is stunting, and why is it a significant public health problem in Indonesia?

A: Stunting is a condition that shows a linear growth disorder caused by chronic malnutrition, recurrent infection, and lack of psychosocial stimulation. It is a significant public health problem in Indonesia, affecting millions of children, and can have long-term consequences on a child's health, education, and economic prospects.

Q: What are the WHO growth standards 2006, and why are they used to assess growth and development in children?

A: The WHO growth standards 2006 provide a reference for assessing growth and development in children. They are used to monitor children's growth and development, and to identify children who are at risk of stunting or other growth disorders.

Q: What is the growth curve of Indonesian children, and how is it different from the WHO growth standards 2006?

A: The growth curve of Indonesian children is a specific growth curve that is developed based on the growth and development of Indonesian children. It is different from the WHO growth standards 2006, which are a general growth curve that is used to assess growth and development in children from different populations.

Q: What are the benefits of using the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting?

A: The growth curve of Indonesian children can be used as a specific and sensitive tool to measure growth and diagnose stunting in children in Indonesia. It provides a more accurate representation of growth and development in this population, particularly in the context of stunting.

Q: How can the growth curve of Indonesian children be used in the prevention and management of stunting in Indonesia?

A: The growth curve of Indonesian children can be used to identify children who are at risk of stunting, and to provide early intervention and treatment to prevent stunting. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing and managing stunting in Indonesia.

Q: What are the limitations of using the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting?

A: The growth curve of Indonesian children may not be suitable for all populations, particularly in regions with different cultural, social, and economic contexts. Additionally, the growth curve may not be able to capture all the factors that contribute to stunting, such as chronic malnutrition and recurrent infection.

Q: What are the future directions for research on the use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting?

A: Future research should aim to validate the use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in different populations and settings. Additionally, research should investigate the effectiveness of using the growth curve of Indonesian children in preventing and managing stunting in Indonesia.

Q: How can the growth curve of Indonesian children be integrated into the national health program to prevent and manage stunting in Indonesia?

A: The growth curve of Indonesian children can be integrated into the national health program by providing training and education to healthcare providers on the use of the growth curve in diagnosing stunting. Additionally, the growth curve can be used to monitor the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing and managing stunting in Indonesia.

Q: What are the implications of using the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting for the health and development of children in Indonesia?

A: The use of the growth curve of Indonesian children in diagnosing stunting can have a positive impact on the health and development of children in Indonesia. It can help to identify children who are at risk of stunting, and to provide early intervention and treatment to prevent stunting. This can lead to improved health and development outcomes for children in Indonesia, and can have long-term benefits for the nation's future.