Enhancing Maternal Behavior towards Prevention of Stunting among Children Below 5 Years Old in the District of Tebing Tinggi Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: This study determined the enhanced maternal behavior towards the prevention of stunting among children below 5 years old. Methods: A cross sectional descriptive-correlational quantitative study design was implored from June to December 2021 at Tebing Tinggi, South Sumatera Kalimantan. The purposive sampling technique with inclusion and exclusion criteria helped select the 150 mothers as respondents to answer the survey questionnaire. This research was specifically conducted at the High Cliff Health Center using a self-administered online questionnaire. Results: The identified enhanced maternal behaviors were the prior related behaviors of the respondents (53.52 ± 13.89349, 113%). On the contrary the perceived benefits (9.8067 ± 3.05, 24.93%), perceived barrier to action (53.52 ± 15.33987, 25.25%), preventive behavior (8.02 ± 2.25831, 18.439%) were identified to be insignificant. There was a relationship (r ≤0.05) between the prior related behavior, perceived benefits, perceived barrier to action and preventive behavior. Conclusion: It was determined that there was still a need to enhance some of the maternal behaviors towards the prevention of stunting among children under 5 years old.