The Effect of Socioeconomic Status and Food Habits on Stunting Toddlers and Non Stunting

Abstract

Socioeconomic status indirectly affects the ability of families to meet nutritional needs and access health services, resulting in malnutrition being more prevalent among families with low socioeconomic status. This condition is also associated with eating habits or food habits. This study aimed to determine the relationship between family income and food habits with the incidence of stunting among toddlers aged 24–59 months in the working area of Buano Selatan Public Health Center. This study employed an observational method with a case-control approach. The study population consisted of toddlers aged 24–59 months registered in the working area of Buano Selatan Public Health Center. A total of 180 toddlers were included in the study, consisting of 90 stunted toddlers as the case group and 90 non-stunted toddlers as the control group, with a 1:1 ratio. Food habits scores were obtained using the Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS). Inferential analysis was conducted using the chi-square test to determine the relationship between family income and stunting incidence. The results showed that 96.7% of parents of stunted toddlers had low income, while 97.8% had low food habits scores. Among non-stunted toddlers, 88.9% of parents had high income and 94.4% had food habits scores in the high category. The statistical analysis showed that family income was significantly associated with stunting incidence (p = 0.048). The odds ratio indicated that toddlers from families with low income had a 3.178 times greater risk of experiencing stunting. These findings indicate that family income is associated with stunting incidence, with low family income increasing the risk of stunting among toddlers. Furthermore, the dietary diversity scores of both stunted and non-stunted toddlers based on the IDDS were categorized as low.