Can stunting be corrected?: Lessons from Indonesia

Abstract Background Impaired growth in children can starts during pregnancy and continue to a few years after birth. Age of 0-2 year is considered as the critical window of growth after birth. This study aimed to investigate the influence of early growth towards growth in the pre-pubertal period. Methods The study was utilizing the Indonesian Family Life Survey panel data of 1993, 1997, and 2000, covered 13 out of 27 provinces. The sample was children aged 0-2 years (year 1993), 4-6 years (1997) and 7-9 years old (2000).The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 13.0. Results About 77% of children who were stunting at 0-2 years and continued at age 4-6 years, remained stunting at ages 7-9 years; 59.5% who were stunting at 4-6 years, remained stunting at age 7-9 years; 10% who were normal at ages 0-2 and 4-6 years become stunting at age 7-9 years, and 16% among those who were stunting at age 0-2 year become normal at age 4-6 years. Multivariate analysis showed that children who were stunting at age 0-2 years and continued until age 4-6 years have 27 times risk of becoming stunting at age 7-9 and those who were stunting at age 4-6 years have 14 times risk. On the other hand, those who were stunting at age 0-2 years but became normal at age 4-6 years, were not related to the risk of becoming stunting at later age. Conclusion Stunted at age 7-9 years is appointed by shortness at the previous period especially when it began at age of 0-2 years and extended into age of 4-6 years. Particular concern has to be carefully interpreted for the evidence of regaining height of stunted children at 0-2 years into normal height at 4-6 years.