Hubungan Pola Pemberian Makan Orang Tua dengan Kejadian Stunting pada Balita di Puskesmas Kedungwungu

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a complex health problem with long-term impacts, characterized by a child's height being lower than the age standard due to chronic malnutrition and repeated exposure to infections. One factor suspected to play a role is the lack of effectiveness of parents in implementing child feeding practices. Objective: This study aims to analyze and identify the relationship between parental feeding patterns and the incidence of stunting in toddlers. Method: This study applied a quantitative approach with a descriptive analytical design and involved 30 respondents, namely mothers of toddlers experiencing stunting, who were selected using a total sampling technique. The data collection tool used was the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ), which was developed based on guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Data collection was carried out by filling out the questionnaire and measuring the toddlers' height. Furthermore, the data were tested for normality and analyzed using the Spearman correlation test. Results: Based on the analysis, a correlation coefficient value of -0.015 was obtained with a significance level of 0.939 (p>0.05), which indicates that there is no significant relationship between feeding patterns and the incidence of stunting in toddlers. Thus, feeding patterns have not become the main factor in efforts to prevent stunting so that efforts to prevent stunting need to consider other factors including the quality of nutrient consumption, environmental health, and family socio-economic conditions. Conclusion: Feeding patterns cannot be said to be a factor that can have a direct impact on children's nutritional status, so efforts to prevent stunting need to consider other factors such as the quality of nutrient consumption, environmental health, and family socio-economic conditions.