Is There Any Relationship between Feeding Practices for Children Under Two Years of Age (6–23 Months) and Stunting?

ABSTRACT

The aim of the paper is to examine the relationship between infant and young child feeding practices (aged 6–23 months) and stunting in East Jakarta. A cross-sectional study design is conducted with three main instruments: maternal and child characteristics, feeding practices, and health behaviors. Sampling is done by simple random sampling technique with a total of 143 respondent mothers in East Jakarta. The results of the analysis show no significant relation between infant and young child feeding practices and stunting (p = 0.147), and its relation with maternal and child characteristics, such as maternal age, maternal employment status, maternal educational level, low birthweight less than 2,500 g, sanitation and health behaviors, and household income (p > 0.05). Further longitudinal studies are required to identify risk factors associated with stunting among children.

KEYWORDS:

• Stunting
• feeding practices
• children age 6–23 months

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Hibah PITTA 2018 funded by Directorate of Research and Community Services (DRPM) of Universitas Indonesia [No.1849/UN2.R3.1/HKP.05.00/2018].