Objective: Stunting is a major health emergency in most developing countries, including Indonesia. The total number of stunting children in 2019 in Enrekang Regency is quite high at 44.8%. Therefore, this study aims to determine the relationship between maternal knowledge, maternal education level, and the number of family members with the incidence of stunting in elementary school children in rural Enrekang, South Sulawesi. Method: An analytical observational study with a cross sectional approach. The subjects of the study were the mother and her child aged 6-12 years. Data collection using microtoa and questionnaires. 100 total samples were collected based on purposive sampling method. Data analysis using chi-square. Results: This study shows the proportion of stunted children 72.0%, maternal knowledge less 90.0%, low maternal education 66.0%, family size 95.0%. The results of statistical tests showed a significant relationship between maternal knowledge (p = 0.027) and the incidence of stunting. Meanwhile, the level of maternal education (p = 0.992) and the number of family members (p = 0.919) are not related to stunting events. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between maternal knowledge and stunting events. Increasing health knowledge and nutritional awareness in mothers through health promotion, stunting education with posters and the distribution of leaflets on sustainable stunting is a toll road in tackling chronic nutrition in children in rural Enrekang

This study aimed to determine the relationship of economic status, infectious diseases, and Urinary Iodine Excretion (UIE) with the incidence of stunting in elementary school children in IDD endemic areas, Enrekang Regency. This research was an observational analytic study with a cross-sectional approach. Subjects in this study were taken by purposive sampling as many as 100 children aged 6-12 years. Research data were collected using a questionnaire, microtoise, and UIE Lab Test and then processed using the chi-square test. The results showed that the proportion of stunting was 72.2% and normal was 28.0%, the low family economy was 82.0%, infectious disease was 79.0%, and low urinary iodine deficiency was 21.0%. The chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between economic status (p=0.045) and infectious diseases (p=0.012) with the incidence of stunting, but there was no relationship between UIE and stunting (p=1,000). The economic status of parents and a history of infectious diseases contribute to the incidence of stunting. Modification of parents' crops by harvesting crops in a short time is recommended to increase family income and increasing children's healthy and clean behaviour is considered necessary to prevent infectious diseases.

BACKGROUND: Stunting is a global health emergency, including in Indonesia. The prevalence of childhood stunting in 2019 in Enrekang amounted to 44.8%. Enrekang Regency is the area with the highest stunting and is an endemic area. Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) is thought to be correlated with the incidence of stunting. AIM: This study aims to identify the determinants of stunting in elementary school children in IDDs endemic areas in the Enrekang Regency. METHODS: An observational analytic study with a cross-sectional approach. The subjects of this study were mothers and their children aged 6–12 years. 100 total samples were collected based on the purposive sampling method. Collecting data using a questionnaire, FFQ, iodine test kit, microtia, and palpation. Data analysis using chi-square and logistic regression. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a relationship between maternal height (p = 0.020), diet (p = 0.049), PHBS practice (p = 0.012) on the incidence of stunting. While the use of iodized salt (p = 0.510) and palpation of the thyroid gland (p = 1000) were not associated with stunting. Lack of PHBS practices for children has a 6333-fold chance of experiencing stunting, while stunted mothers have a 5.583-fold chance of giving birth to stunting children. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between mother’s height, child’s diet, and PHBS practice with stunting. Analysis of determinants related to the incidence of stunting is very important so that it becomes input and empirical evidence to the regional governments in formulating policies to overcome the problem of stunting, which is the highest in South Sulawesi.