Karakteristik Ibu dan Tingkat Keparahan Stunting pada Anak Usia 24–59 Bulan di Kecamatan Galesong Selatan Kabupaten Takalar

Mother’s Characteristics and The Severity of Stunting in Children Aged 24–59 Months in South Galesong Subdistrict, Takalar Regency

Abstract

Stunting masih menjadi permasalahan kesehatan masyarakat yang berdampak pada kualitas tumbuh kembang anak. Berbagai faktor maternal, termasuk karakteristik ibu, dihubungkan dengan tingkat keparahan stunting pada anak usia balita, namun bukti ilmiah penelitian pada konteks lokal masih terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan karakteristik ibu dengan tingkat keparahan stunting pada anak usia 24–59 bulan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan desain analitik potong lintang. Populasi penelitian ini adalah seluruh anak stunting usia 24–59 bulan di wilayah Kecamatan Galesong Selatan, dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 139 anak yang diambil menggunakan teknik total sampling. Pengumpulan data dilakukan pada bulan Agustus–September 2025 melalui wawancara dan pengukuran antropometri. Kategori tingkat keparahan stunting yaitu pendek dan sangat pendek berdasarkan nilai Z-Score TB/U. Analisis data dilakukan secara univariat dan bivariat menggunakan uji statistik Chi-Square. Hasil analisis bivariat menunjukkan bahwa status pekerjaan ibu memiliki hubungan yang signifikan dengan tingkat keparahan stunting (P=0,005). Sementara itu, indeks massa tubuh (IMT) ibu (P=0,615) dan tingkat pendidikan ibu (P=0,293) tidak bermakna secara statistik terhadap tingkat keparahan stunting. Status pekerjaan ibu berhubungan dengan tingkat keparahan stunting pada anak usia 24–59 bulan, sedangkan IMT dan pendidikan ibu tidak berhubungan secara signifikan. Temuan ini menunjukkan pentingnya mempertimbangkan faktor sosial ibu dalam upaya pencegahan dan penanggulangan stunting berbasis keluarga dan komunitas.

Stunting remains a public health issue that affects the quality of children’s growth and development. Various maternal factors, including maternal characteristics, have been linked to the severity of stunting in toddlers; however, scientific evidence from research in the local context remains limited. This study aims to analyze the relationship between maternal characteristics and the severity of stunting in children aged 24–59 months. This study employs a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The study population consists of all stunted children aged 24–59 months in the Galesong Selatan subdistrict, with a sample size of 139 children selected using total sampling. Data collection took place in August–September 2025 through interviews and anthropometric measurements. The severity categories of stunting were short and very short, based on the Z-Score for height-for-age (HAZ). Data analysis was performed using univariate and bivariate methods with the Chi-Square test. Bivariate analysis results indicated that the mother’s employment status was significantly associated with the severity of stunting (P=0.005). Meanwhile, the mother’s body mass index (BMI) (P=0.615) and educational level (P=0.293) were not statistically significant in relation to the severity of stunting. The mother’s employment status was associated with the severity of stunting in children aged 24–59 months, whereas the mother’s BMI and educational level were not significantly associated. These findings highlight the importance of considering maternal social factors in family- and community-based stunting prevention programs.