Anemia of Pregnant Women and The Incidence of Stunting Among Children Aged 24-59 Months: A Case-Control Study in Indonesia

Articles in Press

Document Type : original article

Authors

1 Faculty of Nursing, University of Jember, Jember, Indonesia.

2 Department of Community, Family & Gerontic Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Jember, Jember, Indonesia.

3 Center of Agronursing for Community, Family & Elderly Health, Universitas Jember, Jember, Indonesia.

10.22038/jpp.2026.95312.5644

Abstract

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 24–59 months in families in Indonesia.
Materials and Methods: A case-control design with a retrospective approach was performed 144 cases (consisting of 72 in the case and 72 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 43% more prevalent compared to the control group. The incidence of stunting was classified into two categories: 45.8% were categorized as stunted, and 52.2% 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 < 0.001). In this study, mothers with a history of anemia during pregnancy were 4,7 times more likely to have stunted children (OR = 4.7; CI = 2.07–10.58).
Conclusions: This study indicated a relationship between maternal anemia during pregnancy and the incidence of stunting in children aged 24–59 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.

Keywords

Journal of Pediatric Perspectives

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 31 May 2026

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