The relationship between food quantity and diversity with stunting incidence in Indonesia

Abstract

Stunting often a result of inadequate nutrition or malnutrition, can be mitigated by ensuring both sufficient food quantity and dietary diversity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between food quantity and diversity with stunting incidence in toddlers. Employed a cross-sectional design, this observational research involved 39 randomly selected toddlers from a Surabaya Public Health Center in Indonesia. Researchers assessed nutritional status, diagnosing stunting using anthropometric measurements. Food quantity and diversity in the children’s diets were evaluated through a semi-Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Data analysis was conducted using the Chi-Square test in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed a significant relationship (p=0.001) between dietary diversity with stunting incidence but found no significant link (p=0.892) between food quantity with stunting. Stunting has multifactorial causes, some originating even before a child’s birth. After birth, several factors beyond dietary patterns influence stunting. Thus, addressing the causes of stunting necessitates a case-by-case approach and tailored interventions for each child.