Email this article MATERNAL KNOWLEDGE OF DIETARY PATTERNS AND CHILDHOOD STUNTING: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN MEDAN MARELAN SUBDISTRICT, INDONESIA
Abstract
Stunting is chronic linear growth impairment in children resulting from malnutrition, recurrent infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation (UNICEF et al., 2023). Globally, an estimated 148.1 million children under five were stunted in 2022, and stunting remains a leading contributor to impaired cognitive development and long-term productivity loss (Soliman et al., 2021). In Medan, North Sumatra, Medan Marelan Subdistrict recorded the highest number of stunting cases in the city (34 children) as of January 2024, distributed across the Terjun and Rengas Pulau community health centres (Dinas Kesehatan Kota Medan, 2024). Objective: This study examined the relationship between maternal knowledge of dietary patterns and the incidence of stunting among children under five years in Medan Marelan Subdistrict. Methods: An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted in December 2024. All 34 mothers of children under five identified with stunting in the Terjun and Rengas Pulau catchment areas were enrolled through total sampling, exceeding the minimum sample size (n = 31) calculated using a correlation-based sample size formula (Dahlan, 2010). Data were collected through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed using Spearman's rank-order correlation test (α = 0.05). Results: Most children were aged 2–3 years (41.2%) and female (70.6%). Maternal education was dominated by senior high school graduates (47.1%). Maternal knowledge of dietary patterns was predominantly poor (52.9%), and severe stunting was more prevalent (61.8%) than moderate stunting (38.2%). The Spearman's rho test showed a statistically significant correlation between maternal knowledge of dietary patterns and stunting incidence (r = 0.553, p = 0.001), indicating a strong relationship. Conclusion: Maternal knowledge of dietary patterns is significantly and strongly associated with stunting incidence among children under five in Medan Marelan. Community-based nutrition education targeting mothers with limited dietary knowledge is recommended as a priority intervention.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Albanus, F. S., & Ashipala, D. O. (2023). Nutritional knowledge and practices of mothers with malnourished children in a regional hospital in Northeast Namibia. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(8), 2391. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2391
Alristina, A. D., Ethasari, R. K., & Hayudanti, D. (2021). Food Organization of The Dining House based on Physical and Laboratory Test. Jurnal Gizi Dan Kesehatan, 13(2), 43–56.
Ampow, M. E., Sanggelorang, Y., Hans, F., & Mawo, M. (2025). Perbedaan Pengetahuan Ibu Sebelum Dan Sesudah Diberikan Penyuluhan Tentang ASI Eksklusif Di Kelurahan Lansot Kota Tomohon Provinsi Sulawesi Utara. 2(1), 171–175.
Arief, Y. S., Yunita, F. C., Efendi, F., Murti, F. A. K., Pradipta, R. O., & McKenna, L. (2025). Social and environmental determinants of childhood stunting in Indonesia: National cross-sectional study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 8, e68918. https://doi.org/10.2196/68918
Batool, M., Saleem, J., Zakar, R., Butt, M. S., Iqbal, S., Haider, S., & Fischer, F. (2023). Relationship of stunting with water , sanitation , and hygiene ( WASH ) practices among children under the age of five : a cross- sectional study in Southern Punjab , Pakistan. BMC Public Health, 23(2153), 1–7. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17135-z
Dinas Kesehatan Kota Medan. (2023). Profil kesehatan Kota Medan tahun 2023.
Fitri, A., & Nursia, L. E. (2022). Hubungan Pendapatan Keluarga, Pendidikan, Dan Pengetahuan Ibu Balita Mengenai Gizi Terhadap Stunting Di Desa Arongan. Jurnal Biology Education, 10(1), 1–11.
Hardjito, K. (2024). Peran Ibu Dalam Pemenuhan Kebutuhan Nutrisi Pada Anak Picky Eater. HEALTHY : Jurnal Inovasi Riset Ilmu Kesehatan, 3(1), 30–36.
Irianti, S., Nazila, R., & Sakinah, I. (2023). Hubungan Antara Pengetahuan Ibu Tentang Pola Pemberian Makan Dengan Status Gizi Balita Usia 12-59 Bulan Di Upt Puskesmas Panimbang Kabupaten Pandeglang Tahun 2022. Jurnal Ilmiah Kedokteran Dan Kesehatan, 1(1), 46–56.
Jafar. (2024). Dinilai Sukses Turunkan Stunting, Kota Medan Jadi Daerah Percontohan Penanganan Stunting. INews Medan.
Kumala, D., Prilia, E., Nasution, S. L., & Subagiono, B. (2022). Studi Literature Pengetahuan Sikap dan Perilaku Orang Tua tentang Pemberian Makanan Bayi dan Anak (PMBA) Sesuai Tahapan pada 1000 Hari Pertama Kehidupan dalam Deteksi Resiko Stunting di Kalimantan Tengah. Jurnal Surya Medika, 8(1), 100–107.
Kurniawati, N., & Yulianto, Y. (2022). Pengaruh Jenis Kelamin Balita, Usia Balita, Status Keluarga Dan Pendapatan Keluarga Terhadap Kejadian Pendek (Stunted) Pada Balita Di Kota Mojokerto. Pengembangan Ilmu Dan Praktik Kesehatan, 1(1), 76–92.
Laksono, A. D., Sukoco, N. E. W., Rachmawati, T., & Wulandari, R. D. (2022). Factors Related to Stunting Incidence in Toddlers with Working Mothers in Indonesia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710654
Mporanyi, T., Condo, J., Absolomon, G., Mporanyi, M., Rubuga, F. K., & Munyanshongore, C. (2025). Influence of maternal knowledge of causes and consequences of stunting on infant and young child feeding practices in Rwanda. Scientific Reports, 15, 44481. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-28082-7
Nurbaiti, Safitri, S. I., & Sari, Y. (2024). The relationship between dietary diversity and the risk of stunting in young children in Indonesia. International Journal of Health & Medical Research, 3(6), 19. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijhmr.2024.v3i06n19
Permatasari, T. A. E., Chadirin, Y., Ernirita, E., Syafitri, A. N., & Fadhilah, D. A. (2025). The accuracy of a novel stunting risk detection application based on nutrition and sanitation indicators in children aged under five years. BMC Nutrition, 11(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01074-6
Samaloisa, M. S. (2024). Keterlambatan Perkembangan Motorik Anak Akibat Kurangnya Asupan Gizi. Jurnal Lingkar Pembelajaran Inovatif, 5(November), 105–117.
Samosir, O. B., Radjiman, D. S., & Aninditya, F. (2023). Food consumption diversity and nutritional status among children aged 6-23 months in Indonesia: The analysis of the results of the 2018 Basic Health Research. PLOS ONE, 18(3), e0281426. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281426
Setiyawati, M. E., Ardhiyanti, L. P., Hamid, E. N., Muliarta, N. A. T., & Raihanah, Y. J. (2024). Studi Literatur: Keadaan Dan Penanganan Stunting Di Indonesia. Jurnal Sosial Dan Humaniora, 8(2), 179–186.
Soliman, A., De Sanctis, V., Alaaraj, N., Ahmed, S., Alyafei, F., Hamed, N., & Soliman, N. (2021). Early and long-term consequences of nutritional stunting: From childhood to adulthood. Acta Bio-Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 92(1), e2021168. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33682846/
Tahreem, A., Rakha, A., Anwar, R., Rabail, R., Maerescu, C. M., Socol, C. T., Criste, F. L., Abdi, G., & Aadil, R. M. (2025). Impact of maternal nutritional literacy and feeding practices on the growth outcomes of children (6-23 months) in Gujranwala: a cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1460200. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1460200
UNICEF, Organization, W. H., & Group, W. B. (2023). Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition: UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Group Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates: Key Findings of the 2023 Edition. UNICEF and WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240073791
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2020). Situasi Anak di Indonesia - Tren, peluang, dan Tantangan dalam Memenuhi Hak-Hak Anak. In Unicef Indonesia. Jakarta: Unicef Indonesia.
Venkatesh, J. S., Kulkarni, M., & Senthil Kumar, K. (2026). Maternal feeding knowledge and practices as determinants of nutritional status in under-five children. Bioinformation, 22(4), 2020–2024. https://doi.org/10.6026/973206300222020
Yani, D. I., Rahayuwati, L., Sari, C. W. M., Komariah, M., & Fauziah, S. R. (2023). Family Household Characteristics and Stunting: An Update Scoping Review. Nutrients, 15(1), 1–17.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/jgsims.v7i3.31410
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rahmania Raudhah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Pusat Studi Gender dan Anak Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara
Jl. Williem Iskandar, Pasar V Medan, Medan Estate 20371
» Tel / fax : (061) 6615 683 /
