The results of the study in the Lohbener Health Center Working Area showed that
mothers who had children under the age of >24-60 months were 52 (55.9%) in the normal
category while as many as 41 (44.1%) respondents were in the stunting category. This
proves that the highest distribution is mostly in the normal category (Pramulya et al., 2021).
Risk factors for stunting include the nutritional status of pregnant women on the
growth and development of their fetuses, where nutritional problems must be considered
since they are still in the womb. If there is a lack of nutritional status early in life, it will
have an impact on later life such as having an impact on later life such as late fetal growth
(RJT), low birth weight (BBLR), small, short, thin, low endurance, and risk of death (Zaif et
al., 2017).
Stunting is caused by problems with nutritional intake consumed during the womb and
toddlerhood. Lack of maternal knowledge about health and nutrition before pregnancy, as
well as the postpartum period, limited health services such as antenatal services, and
postnatal services, low access to nutritious food, and low access to sanitation and clean
water are also causes of stunting. These very diverse multi-factors require the most decisive
intervention, which is at 1000 HPK (first 1000 days of life). Factors causing stunting are
also influenced by the mother's occupation, father's height, mother's height, income, number
of household members, parenting, and exclusive breastfeeding, besides stunting is also
caused by several other factors such as maternal education, maternal knowledge about
nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, age of breastfeeding, zinc and iron adequacy levels,
history of infectious diseases and genetic factors (Yuwanti et al., 2021).
The Relationship between Exclusive Breastfeeding and the Incidence of Stunting in
Toddlers in the Working Area of Lohbener Health Center
Based on the results of research that has been conducted most of the 93 maternal
respondents have toddlers aged >24-60 months. It was found that 52 (55.9%) respondents
were not given exclusive breastfeeding, while 41 (44.1%) respondents were given exclusive
breastfeeding. Toddlers who were exclusively breastfed in the normal category were 36
(87.8%) respondents, while toddlers who were not exclusively breastfed in the stunting
category were 36 (69.2%) respondents. Therefore, based on the data obtained, it shows that
most data from the incidence of not being exclusively breastfed results in stunting in
toddlers aged >24-60 months.
The calculation results using the Chi Square Test, obtained a p-value of 0.001 (α
<0.01), thus the hypothesis states that Ha is accepted, meaning that there is a significant
relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting at the age of
>24-60 months in the Lohbener Health Center Work Area.
This research is in line with research conducted by (NIngrum, 2020), entitled the
relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the Incidence of stunting in Toddlers aged
25-59 Months, saying that there is a relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and the
incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 25-59 months at the Drajat Village Posyandu (Annisa