Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Stunting Incidence in Children Under Five in Southeast Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi Province

Abstract

Stunting is a developmental disorder that affects children under the age of five, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life, as a result of chronic malnutrition and repeated infections. The objective of this study is to examine the history of Low Birth Weight (LBW), gestational age, feeding practices, and immunization status in relation to the incidence of stunting in children under five years old in Southeast Minahasa District. This study used a quantitative case-control design. The sample consisted of 78 children, with 39 cases and 39 controls. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The case-control design employed the chi-square test, and the association measure calculated was the Odds Ratio, along with logistic regression analysis. The analysis technique included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. The univariate results showed that 69.2% had a history of LBW, 94.9% were born to mothers aged under 20 years, 59.0% had poor feeding practices, and 84.6% had incomplete immunization status. The bivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between LBW (p=0.007), gestational age (p=0.008), feeding practices (p=0.006), and immunization status (p=0.041) with the occurrence of stunting. LBW was the most dominant factor associated with stunting, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 3.922, p-value 0.013, and a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of 1.336-11.512.