Incidence of Stunting in Children Under Five with a History of Normal Birth Weight and Exclusive Breastfeeding

Abstract

Introduction: Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem characterized by impaired linear growth in children. Birth weight and breastfeeding history are important factors during the first 1,000 days of life and may influence subsequent child growth. Objective: This study aimed to describe birth weight and breastfeeding history among stunted children at Kramat Jati Regional General Hospital. Method: This descriptive retrospective study used medical record data from children aged 0–59 months treated between July 2024 and November 2025. A total of 55 children who met the inclusion criteria were selected using total sampling. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis to determine frequency and percentage distributions. Result and Discussion: Most stunted children had normal birth weight, accounting for 41 children (74.5%), while 14 children (25.5%) had low birth weight. Exclusive breastfeeding was reported in 37 children (67.3%), whereas 18 children (32.7%) did not receive exclusive breastfeeding. These findings indicate that stunting may occur despite normal birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding, suggesting that postnatal nutrition, recurrent infections, caregiving practices, and access to health services may also contribute to growth impairment. Conclusions: Stunting is multifactorial and requires comprehensive nutritional and health interventions throughout early childhood