Risk Factors for Stunting Among Children Under 2 Years with Single Mothers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Indonesia

Children with single mothers are very vulnerable. The study analyzes the factors related to stunting among children under 2 years with single mothers in Indonesia.

The cross-sectional study looked at 845 children. As a dependent variable, we looked at nutritional status (stature). Meanwhile, we examined nine independent variables: maternal age, education, employment, prenatal classes, wealth, children’s age, gender, and early breastfeeding initiation. In the final stage, we performed a binary logistic regression test.

The stunting proportion of children with single mothers in Indonesia was 17.0%. The results showed that children in rural areas were 1.082 times more likely than those in urban areas to become stunted (95% CI 1.044–1.121). Maternal age, education, and employment were related to stunting among children with single mothers. Mothers without prenatal classes were 1.294 times more likely than those with prenatal classes to have stunted children (95% CI 1.241–1.349). Children in all wealth groups were likelier to become small, except the richer, who were less likely than the richest. Twelve to 23 months were 3.628 times more likely than <12 to experience stunting (95% CI 3.475–3.787). Boys were 1.241 times more likely to become stunted than girls (95% CI 1.201–1.282). Children without breastfeeding early initiation were 1.460 times more likely than those with early initiation to experience stunting (95% CI 1.411–1.510).

The study concluded that nine factors related to stunting among 2 years with single mothers in Indonesia: residence, maternal age, education, employment, prenatal classes, wealth status, children’s age, gender, and early breastfeeding initiation.