Fine motor, gross motor, and social independence skills among stunted and non-stunted children

ABSTRACT

Child growth and development are important aspects of the quality of human capital in future. This study aimed to examine the association between stunting and fine motor, gross motor, and social independence development among children under the age of five years old. We included a total of 525 children from district level survey in Sedayu Subdistrict, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for further analysis. Stunting was associated with fine motor (OR =  3.45; 95% CI: 1.22–9.76) and social independence (OR =  7.09; 95% CI: 2.01–25.01), but not gross motor skill (OR =  2.43; 95% CI: 0.67–8.81). Performance ratios of fine motor (p = 0.02) and social independence (p = 0.01) skills were also higher among non-stunted children compared to stunted children.

KEYWORDS:

• Fine motor
• gross motor
• social independence
• stunting
• child development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kiki Nur Meylia

Kiki Nur Meylia was an undergraduate student at Department of Nutrition, Universitas Alma Ata, Indonesia. This publication was part of her thesis research. Currently, Kiki works as a nutritionist at Yogyakarta Teladan School, Indonesia.

Tri Siswati

Tri Siswati is an associate professor at Department of Nutrition, Poltekkes Kemenkes Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Her research works cover the topic of nutrition and public health. She investigated the determinants of childhood stunting in rural areas of Indonesia for her PhD thesis.

Bunga Astria Paramashanti

Bunga Astria Paramashanti has been working as an assistant professor at Department of Nutrition, Universitas Alma Ata, Indonesia. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate at School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Australia. Her research interests include maternal and child nutrition, specifically in child growth and infant and young child feeding practices.

Febrina Suci Hati

Febrina Suci Hati is an assistant professor at Department of Midwifery, Universitas Alma Ata, Indonesia. Her research works cover the topic of child growth and development.