Early Initiation and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Stunting and Normal Toddlers Aged 12-60 Months

Abstract

A growth issue in toddlers known as stunting is characterized by a smaller stature relative to age standards. Numerous variables, including non-exclusive breastfeeding and not implementing early initiation of breastfeeding, contribute to stunting. This study aimed to determine whether there was difference of early initiation  and non early initiation of breastfeeding among stunting and normal toddlers and difference of exclusive and non exclusive breastfeeding among stunting and normal toddlers between the ages of 12 and 60 months at the Simomulyo Health Center in 2021. This study applied the cross-sectional approach in an analytical observational research design. A sample of 81 respondents was gathered via the sampling method of simple random sampling, and the data was analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a confidence interval (CI) value of 95%. The study's analysis revealed no significant difference between the early initiation breastfeeding and non early initiation of breastfeeding in stunting and non stunting group (p = 0.331), nor was there any significant difference found between the exclusive breastfeeding and non exclusive breastfeeding among stunting and non stunting group at Simomulyo Health Center in 2021 (p = 0.460). It might be stated that factors other than early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding impact stunting at the Simomulyo Community Health Center. Eventhough there were no difference in proportion of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding among stunting and normal toddlers at the Simomulyo Health Center in 2021, the early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding are strongly encouraged.

Keywords: early initiation of breastfeeding; exclusive breastfeeding; stunting