Parental Awareness, Understanding, and Factors of Stunting Among Preschool Children

Abstract

The issue of undernutrition among children is happening around the world. The prevalence of stunting in Asia, including Malaysia, is a significant public contributor to health problems. Stunting is defined as a condition in which children, typically under the age of five, have a low height for their age when compared to a reference population or standard growth chart. Parental awareness and understanding are crucial to overcoming the stunting problem among their children. Knowledge of nutritional status in children and affecting factors is useful in overcoming the issue of stunting among children in Malaysia.  The importance of this study lies in addressing a critical gap in existing research, where previous efforts in Malaysia have primarily addressed child malnutrition without a specific emphasis on stunting. This research aimed to determine parents’ awareness and understanding of factors contributing to stunting among preschool children in Puncak Alam communities.  In order to explore the parental awareness, understanding and factors contributing to stunting among preschool children among Puncak Alam residents, a cross-sectional study was conducted using quantitative research methods. The study employed a quantitative approach and utilized descriptive statistical methods to analyze the data. This cross-sectional study involved 137 parents in Puncak Alam, Selangor. A self-questionnaire, understanding regarding stunting and awareness about stunting factors among preschool children, which consists of 35 items with three sections (A, B and C).  The study results revealed that most parents in the Puncak Alam community have a good level of awareness of stunting factors among preschool children. The finding also showed that the majority of the parents had a good understanding of stunting. There was a significant association between awareness and understanding levels regarding stunting and its factors with sociodemographic data. The study shows parental education background is one of the factors that influenced parents’ understanding regarding stunting. With the identification of parental awareness and understanding of the factors contributing to stunting, policymakers and health professionals may work towards decreasing the incidence of stunting and enhancing the overall health and development of children in Malaysia.