In 2019, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia was 27.7%. Although the prevalence of stunting is predicted to have decreased in Indonesia compared to previous years, this condition is still classified as chronic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), public health problems can be considered chronic if the prevalence of stunting exceeds 20%.
Source: The Jakarta Post
What is stunting?
Stunting is a problem of chronic malnutrition during pregnancy that causes stunted growth in children. Frequently, this condition is characterized by a short height. Keep in mind that small children are not necessarily considered stunting, but stunting children are indeed characterized by short bodies.
You should be alerted if the height of the child rises with impaired cognitive function and learning ability in children. Because stunting not only inhibits physical growth but also brain development and various risks of disease that can occur in the next life.
Why does stunting occur?
Stunting is a manifestation of several factors that occur during pregnancy. Two factors cause stunting, are external factors and internal factors. External factors include inadequate sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and an unsanitary environment. Meanwhile, internal factors can arise as a result of chronic malnutrition, both in the womb and after birth.
These are the three main factors that cause stunting in children:
- Malnutrition during pregnancy
The growth of the fetus during pregnancy can be stunted if the mother's food intake during pregnancy is less diverse and does not meet her nutritional needs. What the mother eats is eaten by the fetus in the womb. So, a bad diet causes the fetus from receiving nutrients to support its development.
- Malnutrition after birth
If the child is already malnourished in the womb, growth may be stunted and will continue after birth. This condition will become worse if exclusive breastfeeding is not performed for 6 months and the MPASI is of poor quality. Lack of food intake high in protein, iron, and zinc is a factor that causes dwarfism in children after birth.
- Other external factors
Other factors that contribute to stunting include:
- Inadequate sanitation and lack of access to clean water
- Limited access to health services during pregnancy and postpartum
- Limited access to nutritious food as it is quite expensive
- Lack of education to mothers about nutritional needs before, during, and after pregnancy
How do you know if a child is stunting?
Usually, the lagging developmental process can be seen in the age-based height (TB/U) assessment graph, which is below the standard curve line in children aged 2-3 years. Once that age has passed, this condition indicates that a growth failure (curdled) has occurred in the past.
To find out if your child's height is normal, visit the nearest Posyandu or health center every month to track growth from birth to age 5 through the Card Towards Health (KMS). In addition to developing stunted height, other features to look out for include:
- Slow growth
- The face looks younger than his age
- Delayed tooth growth
- Poor performance in focus and learning memory
- Between the ages of 8-10, children become quieter and don't make much eye contact with the people around them
- The toddler's weight does not increase and even tends to decrease.
- The development of the child's body is hindered, such as late menarche (girls' first menstruation).
- Children are susceptible to various infectious diseases
What is the impact of stunting?
Stunting disorders in children that are not treated properly and as early as possible can have short and long-term consequences. Stunting conditions not only affect stunted physical growth, but also inhibit brain development, cognitive function, and stamina.
Stunting children are at high risk of developing various diseases in the future. Some of the effects of dwarfism that a child may experience include:
- Difficult to study
- Disorders of brain development
- Mental retardation
- Immune System Disorders
- Short stature
- The risk of degenerative diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer
- Death at a young age
- Productivity is declining
Chronic malnutrition since pregnancy can cause permanent loss of physical, cognitive, and physical development in children at an early age. Every child has the right to a good quality of life, now and in the future. Therefore, stunting should be avoided since pregnancy with proper nutritional intake and a supportive environment.
Are you unsure about what to do when you get older? Read more articles about parenting on Fitie. You can also directly contact experienced doctors in their field for pregnancy advice.