Rindi Nuryani, Yhona Paratmanitya, Veriani Aprilia

Association of food security and dietary diversity with stunting among toddlers in Gunungkidul regency, Indonesia

Introduction

Association of food security and dietary diversity with stunting among toddlers in gunungkidul regency, indonesia. Explore the association of food security and dietary diversity with stunting in toddlers in Gunungkidul, Indonesia. Discover that dietary diversity significantly impacts stunting, but food security does not.

Abstract

Background: Stunting is impaired child growth due to prolonged undernutrition. In 2022, Indonesia’s stunting prevalence was 21.46% (SSGI), with Gunungkidul regency in Yogyakarta, Indonesia experiencing the highest rate at 23.5%. food security and dietary diversity can influence the occurrence of stunting in toddlers. Objective: This study aims to determine the association of food security and dietary diversity with stunting among toddlers in Gunungkidul Regency. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Wonosari and Gedangsari District, Gunungkidul Regency. The sample of this study were 105 children from 6 Posyandu (integrated health care center), which were selected based on the stunting prevalence. The sample were selected using quota sampling techniques. Household food security was assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the 2012 USDA Household Food Security Survey Module, and dietary diversity was assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the 2011 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. Results: More than 30% of the children were stunted (31.4%), 51.5% had dietary diversity in the low and medium categories, and 44.8% of respondents come from food insecure families. There was a significant relationship between dietary diversity and stunting (p<0.05), however the relationship with food security was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: Dietary diversity is significantly associated with stunting among toddler however food security is not related to stunting. Caregiver education promoting diverse toddler diets, especially local foods, is needed.

Review

This study critically examines the association of food security and dietary diversity with stunting among toddlers in Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia, a region facing a particularly high burden of child stunting. The paper effectively highlights the prevalence of stunting and identifies two key factors, food security and dietary diversity, that are widely understood to influence child growth and development. By focusing on a specific, high-prevalence area, the research offers valuable, context-specific insights into the determinants of this persistent public health challenge, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the researchers enrolled 105 toddlers from selected integrated health care centers in two districts of Gunungkidul. Household food security was assessed using an adapted USDA module, and dietary diversity was measured based on FAO guidelines, with data analyzed via Chi-Square tests. The findings reveal a significant prevalence of stunting (31.4%), low/medium dietary diversity (51.5%), and household food insecurity (44.8%) within the study population. A key result indicates a statistically significant association between dietary diversity and stunting (p<0.05), suggesting its critical role. Interestingly, no significant relationship was found between household food security and stunting (p>0.05), a finding that warrants further exploration. The divergent results regarding dietary diversity and food security are particularly noteworthy. While the direct link between a child's diverse diet and stunting is intuitive and well-supported, the lack of a significant association with household food security suggests potential disconnects between overall household food availability and the actual nutritional intake of individual toddlers. This could point to issues such as intra-household food distribution, caregiver knowledge, or economic access to nutritious foods even within generally food-secure households. While the cross-sectional design limits causal inferences and the sample size is relatively modest, the study effectively reinforces the importance of dietary quality for toddlers. The recommendation for caregiver education on diverse, local food-based diets is a practical and well-justified implication of the findings, offering a clear path for future public health efforts in the region.

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