ABSTRACT

Background: Stunting is a problem of chronic malnutrition caused by insufficient nutrition in a long time due to the provision of food that is not in accordance with nutritional needs. So that, stunting causes development of the motor system which is one important aspect because motor development is the beginning of the intelligence and emotional behavior’s children. The purpose of this study was to determine the stunting relationship with the development of emotional behavioral problems in children aged 36-72 months in the Community Health Center.

Method: This study is an observational study, with a retrospective cohort study design. This study used a purposive sampling technique, with a total sample of 128 respondents. The instrument of this study used the Emotional Behavior Problem Questionnaire (KMPE). The study analysis used chi-square and logistic regression analysis, with a confidence level of 95%.

Results: Based on logistic regression analysis, it was known that stunting, child sex, maternal occupation, and family income had a significant relationship with the problem of developing emotional behavior. Stunting is the most related variable because it has the lowest p-value and largest Exp (B) (p-value 0,000, RR 11,662, 95% CI (2,318-13,393)). Thus, the chance of developing emotional behavior problems in stunting children, male sex, working mothers, and income less than MSE is 78%.

Conclusions: This study concluded that there was a significant relationship between the development of emotional behavior in children aged 36-72 months and at a risk of 11,662 times than children who were not stunting.

Keywords : Relationship, stunting, children’s development