The Relationship Between Chronic Energy Deficiency in Pregnant Women and Exclusive Breastfeeding Towards Stunting In Toddlers Aged 24-59 Months at Kaloran Public Health Center, Temanggung

Abstract

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that impacts a child's physical growth, intelligence, and future productivity. Indonesia has a high prevalence of stunting, including in Central Java and Temanggung Regency. The main factors causing stunting include inadequate nutritional intake during pregnancy, a history of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) in the mother, and a lack of exclusive breastfeeding. The stunting rate in the Kaloran District, Temanggung Regency, reached 8.5%, with exclusive breastfeeding reaching 53%. The government has launched specific intervention programs to reduce stunting through education, supplementary feeding, and monitoring the health of pregnant women and children. This study aims to analyze the relationship between a history of CED and exclusive breastfeeding with the incidence of stunting at Puskesmas (Primary Health Center) Kaloran. This study was conducted at Puskesmas Kaloran, Temanggung. The study used a quantitative method with a case-control approach. The population was 1,043 respondents aged 24- 59 months, using a simple random sampling technique with a sample size of 184 respondents. Data analysis used the chi-square test. The results of the study showed that there was a relationship between CED in pregnant women and the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 24-59 months in the working area of Puskesmas Kaloran, Temanggung Regency (P value 0.000) and there was a relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 24-59 months in the working area of Puskesmas Kaloran, Temanggung Regency (P value 0.015), so that the Primary Health Center was advised to further increase activities at the integrated health post (posyandu), especially counseling on nutrition and infant health in order to reduce the number of stunting toddlers and counseling on proper breastfeeding and providing age-appropriate food in order to reduce the risk of growth retardation in toddlers.