Exclusive Breastfeeding And The Incidence Of Stunting In Infants Aged 6-23 Months In Makassar District

Feni Amelia Puspitasari; Neli Husniawati; Suwarningsih; Fatimah; Suhermi; Najwa Aurellia Purman

doi:10.37012/jik.v18i2.3872

Authors

Feni Amelia Puspitasari Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin, Indonesia
Neli Husniawati Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin , Indonesia
Suwarningsih Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin , Indonesia
Fatimah Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin , Indonesia
Suhermi Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin , Indonesia
Najwa Aurellia Purman Universitas Mohammad Husni Thamrin , Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37012/jik.v18i2.3872

Keywords:

Exclusive Breastfeeding, Infants Aged 6–23 Months, Stunting

Abstract

Stunting is a chronic nutritional issue that severely impacts physical growth and hinders cognitive development in children due to prolonged malnutrition, particularly during the first thousand days of life. A major determinant contributing to this condition is the suboptimal practice of exclusive breastfeeding within the community. Objective: To investigate the association between a history of exclusive breastfeeding and the incidence of stunting in infants aged 6–23 months. Methods: This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional design. A total of 148 infants aged 6–23 months were recruited as the sample using a random sampling technique. Data on exclusive breastfeeding history were collected via questionnaires, while stunting status was determined through anthropometric measurements based on Length-for-Age (L/A) nutritional status categories. Data collection was conducted at 19 Integrated Healthcare Centers (Posyandu) in the Makasar District Health Center working area in December 2025. Results: The findings revealed that exclusive breastfeeding coverage reached only 53.4%, and overall, 77% of the infants were non-stunted. Specifically, the cohort of infants who received exclusive breastfeeding exhibited a remarkably high non-stunting proportion of 91.1%. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between exclusive breastfeeding history and the incidence of stunting (p-value = 0.000). Exclusively breastfed infants possessed a 6.612 times greater protective probability of remaining non-stunted compared to those who were not exclusively breastfed. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals, in collaboration with community health cadres, are recommended to intensify routine monthly educational mentoring programs for infant and young child feeding at the Posyandu to rigorously monitor the success of exclusive breastfeeding.

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