Stunting has received international attention in recent years and has become a hot topic. According to the World Health Organization, hundreds of millions of children worldwide are estimated to be stunted. However, the Indonesian people's understanding of stunting can still be said to be very poor. One indication is stunting, which is often interpreted as poor nutrition.
Stunting refers to a condition where a child does not grow according to normal height for his age. This usually occurs when a child experiences long-term nutritional deficiencies. On the other hand, poor nutrition or malnutrition occurs when a person's body does not receive enough nutrition to meet its needs. Stunting and malnutrition are two common nutritional problems in children. Basically, the entire process of a child's growth and development may be influenced by these two conditions. Even though they both include nutritional problems, there are several differences between stunting and malnutrition that need to be understood.
Difference between Stunting and Malnutrition
- Causative factor
Stunting and poor nutrition can be seen from the causal factors. Stunting is caused by nutritional deficiencies that occur over a long period of time (chronic) or recur in the first 1000 days of a child's life (starting from the beginning of pregnancy until the age of 2 years). This means that this condition can arise if malnutrition is not treated promptly and appropriately. Apart from that, inadequate nutrition and care for babies at an early age, especially before the age of two years, as well as the health of breastfeeding mothers are the main causes of stunting.
On the other hand, malnutrition can occur in children of all ages if they do not consume enough food to meet their nutritional needs. This condition can occur due to infectious disorders such as hepatitis, chronic diarrhea, etc. which may interfere with appetite or the body's ability to absorb nutrients. - Characteristics of Stunting and Malnutrition
As mentioned previously, growth and development disorders—which are characterized by a child's height being shorter than the average for children his age—are the main characteristics of stunting. Children usually start showing these symptoms around the age of two. Meanwhile, malnutrition can cause various signs, the most common of which is that the child looks very thin. Based on a child's growth curve, they tend to have a smaller upper arm circumference (LiLA) or a smaller body weight compared to other children their age. In addition, malnourished children often have dry skin, sparse hair, are more susceptible to disease, have enlarged bellies, and have impaired growth and development. - Impact of Stunting and Malnutrition
Children with stunting may experience failure to thrive if they do not receive treatment as soon as possible. Most cases of stunting are permanent or irreversible, meaning the child will never grow to normal height. In addition, children who experience stunting have a higher risk of contracting disease, losing learning opportunities, poor school performance, and growing up into a group of people with economically disadvantaged status. On the other hand, poor nutrition carries the danger of severe infectious infections, anemia, severe dehydration, hypothermia, decreased cognitive function, growth and development abnormalities, and even death (in more extreme situations) if left untreated.
It should be noted that children who suffer from malnutrition are 3 times more likely to experience stunting. Meanwhile, compared to children who receive adequate nutrition, children with stunting are 1.5 times more likely to experience malnutrition. The risk of death will increase if children experience these two nutritional problems (malnutrition and stunting) simultaneously. - Prevention of Stunting and Malnutrition
Stunting prevention is mainly done by fulfilling children's nutritional intake, especially during the first 1000 days of life (starting from early pregnancy until the child is 2 years old). Before pregnancy, mothers must prepare themselves as best as possible and pay more attention to maternal nutrition for the fetus. The process of providing nutrition is not much different from preventing malnutrition, namely exclusive breastfeeding for six months, introduction of MPASI, and healthy and balanced food.
Apart from nutrition, it is also important to maintain personal hygiene and the environment at home. Make sure to wash your hands before eating to avoid the risk of your child getting an infection. Don't forget to go to the posyandu or pediatrician regularly to monitor your little one's growth and development. This is done so that you can immediately get appropriate treatment if abnormalities or growth delays are found in children.
Prevention of malnutrition can be done by providing healthy and nutritionally balanced food intake according to the needs of the child's body, such as:
- Give exclusive breast milk until the baby is 6 months old.
- Entering 6 months, MPASI should be introduced while being given breast milk until the age of 2 years.
- If your child is one year old, try to always serve him healthy and balanced food. This means there must be carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals.
- Apart from that, if parents are worried about their child's poor diet or suffering from certain diseases, they also need to immediately take them to the doctor for a consultation.
From the discussion above, it can be concluded that stunting and malnutrition are two nutritional problems that often occur in children. Although both are related to nutritional problems, they have significant differences in terms of their causes, characteristics and impacts. It is important to remember that maintaining children's health is a shared responsibility. Although stunting and malnutrition are serious challenges, with the right knowledge and appropriate actions, we can better face them and ensure an optimal quality of life for future generations. Let us continue to strive to create an environment that supports optimal growth and development for our children.
Article written by dr. Yuliyana Kusaeri, M.Gizi, Sp.GK (Clinical Nutrition Specialist at EMC Pekayon Hospital).