A Matched Case-Control: Effect of Early Initiation of Breast Feeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding, and Infectious Diseases on Stunting Incidence during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Balangan Regency

Abstract

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic is thought to affect a number of causes of stunting, including exclusive breastfeeding, early breastfeeding initiation, and illness exposure. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effect of early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, and infectious diseases on stunting during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was conducted in 6 stunting focus location villages in 2 subdistricts in Balangan Regency in June 2022. Children aged 6-23 months, both stunted and normal, served as the case samples in the case-control research design. Utilizing the Lemeshow formula, 66 samples with a 1:2 comparison were selected using a simple random sampling technique. In the case and control groups, the characteristics were equalized based on gender and age. Statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-square test and binary logistic regression. Results: early initiation of breastfeeding (p=0.001, OR=6.806, CI=2.185-21.201), exclusive breastfeeding (p=0.021, OR=4.080, CI=1.363-12.209) and infectious diseases (p=0.000, OR=12.244, CI=3.118-48.086). Infectious diseases had the most influence on the incidence of stunting during the Covid-19 pandemic, proved by the magnitude of the OR value. Conclusions: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of stunting was influenced by early breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and infectious diseases.