COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TODDLERS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS OF BANDUNG REGENCY AND BANDUNG CITY WITH STUNTING STATUS

Abstract

Toddler health status is a key public health priority and is commonly assessed using nutritional indicators such as height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), history of infectious diseases, and immunization status, which are obtained from routine health service records. Stunting remains a major global health problem, including in Indonesia. This study aimed to examine the relationship between toddler characteristics in Bandung City and Bandung Regency and nutritional status outcomes in 2024. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted using secondary data from the community-based nutrition recording and reporting application (e-PPGBM) for 2024. The study population consisted of toddlers aged 1–5 years recorded in e-PPGBM in Bandung Regency and Bandung City in February and August 2024. The results showed no association between sex distribution and administrative area. However, significant differences were found between rural (Bandung Regency) and urban (Bandung City) areas in terms of age distribution, WAZ, HAZ, WHZ, underweight, stunting, and wasting. A double burden of malnutrition was observed across all age groups, including undernutrition and overnutrition. Children with a history of low birth weight had nearly twice the proportion of short and very short stature compared to those with normal birth weight. Overall, nutritional patterns and burdens differed markedly between rural and urban areas, with Bandung City showing higher prevalence of overnutrition and chronic growth disorders than Bandung Regency.