Maternal factors contributed as important risk factors of stunting among children under 5 years old in East Java, Indonesia

Roughly, three out of ten toddlers in Indonesia are stunted. Stunted children are spread throughout some provinces in Indonesia, including East Java. In East Java Province, ten cities and regencies exhibit a higher stunting prevalence rate than the national average. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting stunting among families with children under five years old. The study is population-based using census data. The dependent variable is stunting. The independent variables are young maternal age (<20 years old), older maternal age (>35 years old), and frequent pregnancies (> 2 children). The data were collected from the National Population and Family Planning Board which included 6,373,612 families, with children under five years old, from 38 districts/cities around East Java, Indonesia. The data were analysed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis with multiple linear regression. The results showed a relationship between young maternal age (B=11.37; p <0.001; 95% CI= 7.35 to 15.40), old maternal age (B=1.02; p <0.001; 95% CI= 0.84 to 1.20), and frequent pregnancies (B=1.01; p=0.007; 95% CI= 0.30 to 1.73) and the incidence of stunting. Maternal factors significantly contributed to stunting. The research identified young maternal age, old maternal age, and frequent pregnancies as variables that predicted and contributed to stunting. Based on the findings, an intervention can be proposed to stakeholders to arrange stunting prevention programs related to maternal issues.