HUBUNGAN TINGKAT PENGETAHUAN DAN SIKAP IBU TENTANG STIMULASI TUMBUH KEMBANG DENGAN STATUS GIZI BADUTA BERISIKO STUNTING

Abstract

Background: Stunting remains a chronic nutritional problem in Indonesia, with ongoing challenges in improving child nutrition, particularly related to maternal knowledge and attitudes. Few studies have specifically examined the relationship between mothers’ knowledge and attitudes and the nutritional status (HAZ, WHZ, WAZ) of children under two years old at risk of stunting. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal knowledge and attitudes and the nutritional status of children under two years at risk of stunting. Methods: This quantitative study used a cross-sectional design involving 34 respondents selected through total sampling. Data were collected through interviews using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements and analyzed using the Spearman Correlation Test. Results: The correlation test showed a significant relationship between maternal knowledge and children’s nutritional status based on height-for-age (HAZ) (p = 0.016), but no significant relationship with weight-for-age (WAZ) (p = 0.442) or weight-for-height (WHZ) (p = 0.614). Maternal attitudes were significantly associated with HAZ (p = 0.017) and WAZ (p = 0.005), but not with WHZ (p = 0.811). Conclusion: Maternal knowledge and attitudes play an important role in determining children’s nutritional status, particularly in supporting linear growth. Mothers with good knowledge and positive attitudes toward nutrition and stunting prevention tend to have children with better nutritional status, especially in terms of height-for-age and weight-for-age.