The Relationship Between Parental Feeding Behavior and Household Food Security Status to The Incidence of Stunting in Children Aged 12 – 59 months in the Working Area of Kasemen Public Health Center

Due to the fact that it impedes both the physical development and the cognitive capacity of children, stunting continues to be a significant public health concern. The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between the feeding habits of parents and the level of food security in their households and the prevalence of stunting in children aged 12–59 months. The research was an observational analysis using a case-control design, and it was carried out with 132 participants, including 66 children who were stunted and 66 children who were not stunted. In order to gather data, the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) and the US-HFSSM were used. The Chi-Square test was then utilized in order to evaluate the data. The findings indicated that there was a statistically significant connection between the feeding behavior of parents and stunting (p = 0.007), as well as a correlation between the food security level of households and stunting (p = 0.002). These findings shed emphasis on the significant role that families play in ensuring that their children get enough nutrition and engaging in good eating habits. In order to minimize the occurrence of stunting and to promote the optimum growth and development of future generations, it may be possible to implement methods such as strengthening nutrition education, educating health professionals to educate parents, and integrating government food assistance programs.