Melola Discovery

← Melola Discovery

Journal

Stunting among Under‐Five Children in Semarang Regency: Evidence from a Case–Control Study on Maternal KAP, Sanitation, and Early Feeding

Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat · Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 79–88

DOI
10.15294/kemas.v22i1.40103
ISSN
2355-3596, 1858-1196
Published
2026-09-26
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang in collaboration with Ikatan Ahli Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia (IAKMI Tingkat Pusat) and Jejaring Nasional Pendidikan Kesehatan (JNPK)
Language
eng

Abstract

Stunting is a significant public health issue with enduring impacts on cognitive development, productivity, and susceptibility to chronic diseases.This study aimed to identify and quantify determinants of stunting among children aged 6–59 months in Semarang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, through a case–control study design. A total of 251 children (49 stunted cases and 202 controls) aged 6–59 months were enrolled between September and October 2024 from two purposively selected primary health centers in Semarang Regency. Data included biological, environmental, and maternal knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) variables. Chi-square tests were used for bivariate analysis, and variables with p<0.25 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Associations were quantified using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Bivariate analysis indicated that diarrheal infection, short birth length, lack of exclusive breastfeeding, poor sanitation, inadequate feeding practices, low maternal knowledge, negative maternal attitudes, and poor preventive behaviors were significantly associated with increased odds of stunting (p<0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed that negative maternal attitude had the strongest association with stunting (AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.2–4.6), alongside other independently associated factors. These findings suggest that stunting in Semarang Regency is shaped by interconnected biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Interventions should integrate behavior change communication and WASH improvements with nutrition-specific actions. Results should be interpreted as associative, not causal, due to the case–control study design.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 99 co-authorship links · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • State University of Semarang
  • Universitas Ahmad Dahlan
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Lina HandayaniUniversitas Ahmad Dahlan3
Rochana RuliyandariAffiliation unknown3
Ratu MatahariAffiliation unknown3
Najib NajibAffiliation unknown2
Dina Lusiana SetyowatiAffiliation unknown2
Alfan AfandiAffiliation unknown2
Irwan BudiyonoAffiliation unknown2
SolikahAffiliation unknown2
Karlina KarlinaAffiliation unknown2
Alya Asyura WijayaAffiliation unknown2
Budi Dewi SalfanaAffiliation unknown2
Khairunnisaa Nuur Aliifah SetyawatiAffiliation unknown2
Widya Hary CahyatiState University of Semarang1
Eka Radiyani OktaviaAffiliation unknown1
Fatehah Rahma AgustinAffiliation unknown1
Nandito Mapian MagaiAffiliation unknown1
Alfian Nisa RokhimahAffiliation unknown1
Devi Purnama SariAffiliation unknown1
Oktavia NurlailaAffiliation unknown1
Puji PranowowatiAffiliation unknown1
Nanik WijayatiState University of Semarang1
Samuel Budi Wardana KusumaAffiliation unknown1
Astriya HidayahAffiliation unknown1
Kartika Dian PertiwiAffiliation unknown1
Dwi Sarwani Sri` RejekiAffiliation unknown1
Dwita DarmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Dyah SusantiAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad Zaenuri Syamsu HidayatAffiliation unknown1
Lafi MuniraAffiliation unknown1
Triani MarwatiAffiliation unknown1
Siti Kurnia Widi HastutiAffiliation unknown1
Agianto AgiantoAffiliation unknown1
Yulius TirandaAffiliation unknown1
Khanitta NuntabootAffiliation unknown1
Cahyu SeptiwiAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/kemas/oai, first harvested 6 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
<oai_dc:dc xmlns="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:oai_dc="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc/  http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/2.0/oai_dc.xsd">
	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Stunting among Under‐Five Children in Semarang Regency: Evidence from a Case–Control Study on Maternal KAP, Sanitation, and Early Feeding</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Widyawati, Sigit Ambar</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Yuliaji Siswanto</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Kustiyono</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Solikhah, Solikhah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Monthida Sangruangake</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Stunting; Case-control study; Maternal attitudes; Exclusive breastfeeding; Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); Indonesia; Child health</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Stunting is a significant public health issue with enduring impacts on cognitive development, productivity, and susceptibility to chronic diseases.This study aimed to identify and quantify determinants of stunting among children aged 6–59 months in Semarang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia, through a case–control study design. A total of 251 children (49 stunted cases and 202 controls) aged 6–59 months were enrolled between September and October 2024 from two purposively selected primary health centers in Semarang Regency. Data included biological, environmental, and maternal knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) variables. Chi-square tests were used for bivariate analysis, and variables with p&amp;lt;0.25 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Associations were quantified using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Bivariate analysis indicated that diarrheal infection, short birth length, lack of exclusive breastfeeding, poor sanitation, inadequate feeding practices, low maternal knowledge, negative maternal attitudes, and poor preventive behaviors were significantly associated with increased odds of stunting (p&amp;lt;0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed that negative maternal attitude had the strongest association with stunting (AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.2–4.6), alongside other independently associated factors. These findings suggest that stunting in Semarang Regency is shaped by interconnected biological, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Interventions should integrate behavior change communication and WASH improvements with nutrition-specific actions. Results should be interpreted as associative, not causal, due to the case–control study design.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang in collaboration with Ikatan Ahli Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia (IAKMI Tingkat Pusat) and Jejaring Nasional Pendidikan Kesehatan (JNPK)</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-09-26</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/kemas/article/view/40103</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/kemas.v22i1.40103</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat; Vol. 22 No. 1 (2026); 79 - 88</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2355-3596</dc:source>
	<dc:source>1858-1196</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/kemas.v22i1</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/kemas/article/view/40103/11513</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>