Anemia of Pregnant Women and The Incidence of Stunting Among Children Aged ۲۴-۵۹ Months: A Case-Control Study in Indonesia

Background: Stunting is a form of malnutrition that remains a global problem. Pregnant women require greater nutritional intake due to increased metabolic demands and fetal growth, including a higher requirement for iron. Poor maternal nutrition can lead to anemia, which disrupts the blood supply responsible for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, thereby causing developmental and growth impairments. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between maternal anemia during pregnancy and the incidence of stunting in children aged ۲۴–۵۹ months in families in Indonesia.Materials and Methods: A case-control design with a retrospective approach was performed ۱۴۴ cases (consisting of ۷۲ in the case and ۷۲ in the control group) employed stratified random sampling. Data on maternal anemia during pregnancy were obtained from the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) handbook. Meanwhile, anthropometric measurements of children were conducted using a digital scale and a digital microtoise. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test to determine the relationship between variables.Results: Mothers who experienced anemia in the case group were ۴۳% more prevalent compared to the control group. The incidence of stunting was classified into two categories: ۴۵.۸% were categorized as stunted, and ۵۲.۲% as severely stunted. The results of the Chi-square analysis showed a significant relationship between maternal anemia during pregnancy and the incidence of stunting (p < ۰.۰۰۱). In this study, mothers with a history of anemia during pregnancy were ۴,۷ times more likely to have stunted children (OR = ۴.۷; CI = ۲.۰۷–۱۰.۵۸).Conclusions: This study indicated a relationship between maternal anemia during pregnancy and the incidence of stunting in children aged ۲۴–۵۹ months. Therefore, this study recommends that families be aware of the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and the consumption of iron supplements in order to prevent stunting in children.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anemia ، Family ، Malnutrition ، pregnancy ، Stunting