Determinants of the Stunting of Children Under Two Years Old in Indonesia: A Multilevel Analysis of the 2013 Indonesia Basic Health Survey

• Main Authors: Christiana R. Titaley, Iwan Ariawan, Dwi Hapsari, Anifatun Muasyaroh, Michael J. Dibley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: stunting; child under two years old; Indonesia; Indonesia Basic Health Survey
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/5/1106

Indonesia is ranked fifth among countries with the highest burden of stunting in children under five. This study aims to examine the determinants of stunting in children aged 0−2 years in Indonesia using data derived from the 2013 Indonesia Basic Health Survey. Twenty potential predictors of stunting, categorized into household and housing characteristics; maternal and paternal characteristics; antenatal care services and child characteristics were analyzed. Multilevel analyses were performed to examine the role of cluster/district/provincial differences, as well as individual/household level characteristics and stunting status. Of 24,657 children analyzed, 33.7% (95%CI: 32.8%−34.7%) were stunted. The odds of stunting increased significantly among children living in households with three or more children under five-years-old (aOR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.03−1.72), households with five to seven household members (aOR =1.11; 95%CI: 1.03−1.20), children whose mothers during pregnancy attended less than four antenatal care services (aOR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.08−1.39), boys (aOR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.22−1.45), children aged 12−23 months (aOR = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.54−2.32), and children who weighed <2500 g at birth (aOR = 2.55; 95%CI: 2.05−3.15). The odds also increased significantly with the reduction of household wealth index. Integrated interventions to address environment, an individual level associated with stunting in Indonesia, from the environment- to individual-level factors are important.