When is a child considered stunting? is a question that often arises in the minds of new parents. There are also few indicators to identify if a child is stunting. So, under what conditions can a child be diagnosed with stunting?
The Difference of Underweight, Stunting and Wasting
First, you’ve got to know what’s the difference of underweight, stunting and wasting.
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared stunting a chronic public health issue and prioritized health concern. Statisticly speaking, there are 165 million children worldwide, under the age of 5, currently experience stunting.
Read More : These 3 Disadvantages of Children Experiencing Stunting
In addition, children under 5 may face other nutritional challenges, such as Underweight and Wasting. Health experts identify Underweight when a child’s weight does not align with their age. Meanwhile, wasting indicates a low weight that does not correspond to their height or length.
The critical distinction between stunting, underweight, and wasting rests in the duration of the malnutrition period. Stunting characterizes a child’s low height that does not match their age. It’s crucial to note that various factors, particularly the nutrition received during pregnancy, influence a child’s height during the first 1000 days of life.
When Is Child Considered Stunting?
Height Below -2 Standard Deviations in 2 Months.
First you need to maintain the most is the height of your child.
The critical period for stunting occurs between the ages of 0-2 years. However, according to the Ministry of Health, Indonesia experiences the highest average stunting at the age of 24-35 months, reaching 26.2%. This follows the age group of 12-23 months, with a prevalence of 22.4%.
To achieve accurate measurement results, individuals need to use the appropriate measuring tool. The Ministry of Health recommends using the Infantometer Board for detecting stunting. This instrument adheres to the standards set by the Ministry of Health.
In addition to the Infantometer Board, you can utilize the Infant Ruler and Growth Mat, available through the following marketplace: https://shopee.co.id/stuntingkit. The Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration have employed the Growth Mat and Infant Ruler.
If your child experiences a consecutive deficiency in height or length twice, promptly contact a pediatric specialist.
2. Respiratory or Digestive Infections
Secondly, Malnutrition or nutrient deficiency contributes to 20% of deaths and increases the risk of morbidity in children since the pregnancy period. Children with stunting indicators commonly experience pneumonia and diarrhea. Those with stunting and morbidity face a threefold risk of mortality. Other potential morbidities include sepsis, meningitis, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and cellulitis.
Leaving stunting unaddressed also increases the risk of children growing up with hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, children with lower body weight often require extra attention.
If your child undergoes consecutive deficient growth in height accompanied by respiratory or digestive infections, promptly contact a pediatric specialist.
3. Intellectual and Developmental Disorders
Nutritional deficiencies impacting a child since prenatal stages can hinder brain growth, influencing the child’s overall development. Speech Delay becomes a notable concern for parents in this context.
Speech constitutes a multifaceted process involving anatomical growth, motor control refinement, and cognitive and language development. Psychological factors also come into play. Studies reveal that children with stunting experience a 30% occurrence of speech delay.
The speech phase in children initiates around 12-18 months, where they should articulate at least 20 words or more. Therefore, if a child confronts both growth and speech delays during this phase, it is imperative to promptly consult a pediatric specialist.
The Category of Stunting
According to WHO and other studies, there are four categories of stunting. These four categories include Early Onset Persistent, Early Onset Recovered, Late Onset Persistent, and Late Onset Recovered.
The study reveals that stunting occurs during the critical period, specifically the first 1000 days. However, this condition can continue until the age of 5. Timely intervention before the age of 5 can catch up with the growth and developmental delays that have occurred.
Regularly Check Your Child’s Height at Home!
In addition to ensuring adequate nutrition, regular checks on your child’s height or length are necessary. Periodic checks are one of the crucial indicators for detecting stunting in children. Therefore, you need to use appropriate measuring instruments. The Infantometer Board, Infant Ruler, and Growth Mat are measuring tools that you can have at home.
Infantometer Board
The Infantometer Board serves as a measuring instrument for the length of infants and children under two years old. Measuring the length of infants and young children can be an early prevention indicator for stunting. This is crucial as the 1000 Days of Life window concludes at the age of 2. Stunting prevention can be addressed promptly within this timeframe. One effective method is to measure the length of infants and young children using the Infantometer Board.
Growth Mat
The Growth Mat is a measuring mat equipped with a calibrated scale. Additionally, it functions as an early detection tool, featuring height indicators based on the child’s age
Infant Ruler
This tool is a practical version of the Growth Mat. The Infant Ruler comes with head and foot stops.
Contact us via email at admin@soloabadi.com or through WhatsApp at 08510888111. You can also directly access our marketplace at: https://shopee.co.id/stuntingkit
