The effect of complementary food combinations on stunted children aged 6 months and over: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Complementary feeding practice, starting from when children are 6 months old, is one of the associated factors of stunted growth. Objectives:To assess the correlation between complementary food combinations, mothers' occupation, basic immunisation history, birth weight and stunted growth. Method:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Karangroto village, Central Java, Indonesia in November 2019. Data were collected using infant's weight and length/height and stunting was determined using WHO Child Growth Standards. Independent variable data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bivariate analysis was performed using Chi-Squared and Fisher's exact test whilst multivariate analysis used logistic regression.Result: Of the total 117 respondents, 24.8% were categorised as stunted and 37.3% children who did not receive different food combinations were categorised as stunted. Bivariate analysis found that stunting in children was related to unvaried food combinations (p=0.001, OR 6.845; 95% CI 2.199, 21.304), incomplete basic immunisations based on age (p=0.028, OR 2.951; 95% CI 1.211, 7.191) and low birth weight (p=0.032, OR 3.344; 95% CI 1.150, 9.720). Logistic regression showed that children ________________________________________