RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUNTING WITH MENTAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON CHILDREN IN CIBEBER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER CIMAHI SELATAN DISTRICT
Yoke Ayukarningsih, Desy Linasari, Ardhya Maulina

Jenderal Achmad Yani University

Abstract

Stunting is a condition of linear growth disorders due to chronic malnutrition which causes short stature manifestation. Chronic malnutrition might has an impact on mental-emotional development related to neurological blockages, decreased Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical (HPA) responses, and barriers to secondary emotional development that occur due to limited exploration with the social environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between stunting in children aged 36-60 months with the mental-emotional development of children in Cibeber Health Center, Cimahi Selatan District. This research is analytic observational with cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted each of 40 stunted and non-stunted children. The samples were taken using a consecutive sampling technique. Primary data were collected by using the Mental Emotional Problem Questionnaire (KMME), while secondary data in the form of categorized height for age data were collected using data from the Cibeber Health Center. The results of the univariate study showed that the characteristics of stunting children were dominated by age range of 36-48 months, male gender, normal birth length, birth weight range of 2500-3000 gram and had mental-emotional development that might be problematic. The bivariate analysis found that there was no significant relationship between stunting in children aged 36-60 months with mental-emotional development (p = 0.117). This can occur if the accumulation of risk factors that result in the vulnerability for the child to develop mental-emotional disorders is less than the protective factors, which include stimulation in the form of play materials and affection that can support optimal development.

Keywords: Mental Emotional Problems Questionnaire (KMME), mental-emotional development, stunting

Topic: Public Health