Exploration of the CHAID Method in Detecting the Relationship among the Factors Related to the Prevalence of Undernourishment

This study aimed to identify factors associated with Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) levels in Indonesia, which indicate disparities across regions. The study employed the Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) method, as it is suitable for exploring interaction structures among influencing variables. The variables analyzed included rice production, population density, percentage of the poor population, percentage of food expenditure per capita, food consumption patterns, the Human Development Index (HDI), and the Food Security Index (FSI). The results revealed five factors with the strongest associations and interactions with PoU, namely the FSI, percentage of the poor population, population density, HDI, and food consumption patterns. These findings suggest that policy interventions should prioritize strengthening food security to ensure equitable food availability and access. Subsequent priorities include sustained poverty reduction efforts while considering interactions among remaining determinants of PoU, as illustrated in the CHAID dendrogram, to support evidence-based regional policy planning and targeted nutrition intervention strategies nationally.