Beware of Stunting in Urban Areas

Despite having adequate economic conditions and health access, urban and suburban areas still have a high prevalence of stunting.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

A child aged 3 years and 11 months with "stunting" or long-term health was measured for his height and weight at RW 09 Cakung Barat Subdistrict, Cakung District, East Jakarta on Saturday (8/4/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – There is still a large number of stunted children in urban areas, even though urban residents have access to knowledge, economic resources and health services. Poverty, limited immunization coverage, lack of knowledge and a polluted environment are among the triggers of stunting in urban areas.

Luis, a boy of 4 years and 10 months, in Wonokromo village, Surabaya, East Java, has not yet overcome stunting. He weighs less than 12 kilograms and is less than 100 centimeters tall. A 5-year-old boy should typically weigh 14.1 kg to 24.2 kg and be 100.7 cm to 119.2 cm tall. This remains a challenge amid the Surabaya municipality administration’s success in reducing the stunting prevalence from 28.9 percent in 2021 to 4.8 percent in 2022.