Determinants Associated With Stunting Among Children Under Two Years Old In Asia: A Scoping Review
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Abstract
About 18.9 million stunted children were reported in 2022 in Asia. Although there was a reduction in prevalence, the numbers were still high. This review aimed to identify the determinants associated with stunting among children under two years old in Asia. A systematic search of English-language articles published between 2013 and 2023 was conducted using PubMed and Scopus. Only 32 articles were deemed eligible. The included studies indicated several main predictors of child stunting: 1) community and societal factors, 2) household and family factors, 3) inadequate complementary feeding, 4) breastfeeding, and 5) infection. A diverse range of contributing factors is, to varying degrees, associated with stunting, demonstrating the importance of considering how those predictors interact with nutrition. Integrated health promotion, prevention, and interventions by healthcare providers and communities are needed to address this issue.
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