Correlation Between Maternal Weight Gain During Pregnancy And The Occurrence Of Stunting In Infants

Objective: Pregnant women have four categories of BMI, which is underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Stunting is a growth disorder due to chronic malnutrition which is indicated by the value of z score body length by age less than -2 SD. The impact of stunting in infants and toddlers is cognitive delay in childhood. This study aims to determine the correlation between maternal weight gain during pregnancy with the occurrence of stunting in infants. Method: The research design uses correlative analytic method with case control approach. Research population were all infants aged 6 - 12 months in Tanjungrejo Village, with proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The sample was 69 infants. Data collection tools are infantometer & mother and child health (MCH) book. Result: The results of the study indicated that 16% of stunting respondents with appropriate maternal weight gain, 84% of stunting respondents with inappropriate maternal weight gain, 45% of normal respondents with appropriate maternal weight gain and 55% of normal respondents with inappropriate maternal weight gain. Spearman rank analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between maternal weight gain during pregnancy and stunting occurrence in infants was -0.260 and the significance of 0.031 (<0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant correlation of maternal weight gain during pregnancy with the occurrence of stunting in infants. Mothers of infants and the community are expected to fulfill the nutritional needs of pregnant women to gain weight in accordance with pre-pregnancy BMI, thus preventing the occurrence of stunting in infants.