Association Between the History of Maternal Nutritional Status in the First Trimester and Stunting: A Case-Control Study in Indonesia

Background: This study aimed to analyze the association between maternal nutritional status during the first trimester of pregnancy and the incidence of stunting among infants aged ۰–۲۴ months in the working areas of Jember Regency Community Health Centers. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control design was employed, involving ۱۰۴ families. Participants included ۵۲ families in the case group (infants with stunting) and ۵۲ in the control group (infants without stunting), selected via stratified random sampling from three sub-districts prioritized for stunting reduction. Maternal nutritional status was evaluated using historical Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) records extracted from Maternal and Child Health (MCH) books, an approach that effectively minimized recall bias.Results: Chi-square analysis (p<۰.۰۵) revealed that ۷۱.۱۵% of mothers in the case group had a MUAC <۲۳.۵ cm during their first trimester, whereas ۵۷.۶۹% in the control group had a normal MUAC (≥۲۳.۵ cm). A significant association was found between first-trimester maternal nutritional status and stunting (p=۰.۰۰۳; OR=۳.۳۶۴; ۹۵% CI=۱.۴۹۰–۷.۵۹۱).Conclusion: Maternal nutritional status during the first trimester is significantly associated with infant stunting. Mothers experiencing malnutrition during this critical period have a ۳.۳۶ times greater risk of having stunted infants compared to well-nourished mothers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aged ۰&ndash ، ۲۴ ، First trimester ، Infants ، Maternal nutritional status ، Stunting