Continuity of Midwifery Care Implementation to Reduce Stunting

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reducing and preventing stunting is currently a priority for health programs in Indonesia. As providers of midwifery care, midwives have a strategic position to play a role in accelerating stunting reduction. The provision of continuity of midwifery care is expected to be able to prevent stunting in infants. AIM: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of providing continuity of midwifery care for the incidence of stunting. METHODS: The study design was a cohort from the third trimester of gestation until the baby reached 6 months of age, with the population were all third-trimester pregnant women in the working area of Mapane Health Center. The number of samples was 32 as case and 32 as control. The research variables were the characteristics of the respondents, early initiation of breastfeeding, chronic energy deficiency, hypertension, place of birth, and the incidence of stunting. The hypothesis test was used as Chi-square. Data analysis used the WHO Anthro and STATA applications. RESULTS: The proportion of children who were stunted at the age of 6 months was 15.6%, where the proportion of children who experienced stunting at 6 months of age in the control group was 28.1%, while in the intervention group it was only 3.1%. Providing effective midwifery care to prevent stunting in children showed that maternal age (p = 0.017) and exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.009) were associated with the incidence of stunting. CONCLUSION: Exclusive breastfeeding can prevent the occurrence of stunting in children.