Mother's knowledge and attitudes towards preventing stunting in their toddlers (1-5 years) in West Java Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a term used to describe a condition when a child's physical growth does not reach the height that should be appropriate for his age. This indicates that the child is experiencing growth delays which can have a negative impact on their physical and cognitive development. Stunting or shortness of breath occurs when babies (0-11 months) and toddlers (12-59 months) experience growth failure as a result of chronic malnutrition, especially during the first 1,000 days of life. The impact is that the child has a shorter height than the standard that should be appropriate for his age.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between knowledge and attitudes of mothers towards stunting in toddlers (1-5 years) in the Ciherang Community Health Center working area, Cianjur Regency in 2023.

Method: Quantitative research with a research design cross sectional.  This research was conducted from April to May 2023. Respondents were 53 mothers who had stunted children under five. Data collection was carried out by observing, analyzing data using tests spend-square.

Results: Analysis results spend-square earned value p-value = 0.003 < 0.05.

Conclusion: There is a relationship between mother's knowledge and attitude towards stunting.

Suggestion: It is hoped that it can increase knowledge and insight for mothers to know the importance of prevention stunting from the age of toddlers in order to reduce the number of incidents stunting in Indonesia, especially in the Cianjur Region.