Determinants of stunting among children aged 6–23 months in Bandung City: the role of maternal and child health factors

Stunting is a global health problem that impacts children's physical growth, cognitive development, and future economic well-being. In Indonesia, although the prevalence of stunting has decreased, the incidence rate is still high, including in Bandung City. Maternal and child health factors play an important role in the incidence of stunting, but there is limited research on the interaction of these factors in an urban context. This study aims to analyze the influence of maternal and child health factors on the incidence of stunting in children aged 6-23 months in Bandung City. This study used a community-based cross-sectional design, involving 412 randomly selected children aged 6-23 months in Bandung City. The sample was collected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected through interviews using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associations between maternal factors, child health, and the incidence of stunting. The prevalence of stunting in Bandung City was 35.0%. Analysis showed that factors associated with an increased risk of stunting included: having less than 4 antenatal visits (AOR=2.23), not exclusively breastfed (AOR=1.38), low birth weight (AOR=1.52), and history of infectious diseases (AOR=3.30). In addition, socioeconomic factors, such as low family income, also contributed significantly to the incidence of stunting (AOR=3.15). A correlation has been demonstrated between maternal and child health factors and the incidence of stunting in Bandung City. Policy recommendations include improving access to and quality of maternal health services, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, and nutrition counselling for low-income families.