Analysis of Factors Influencing Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Year Old
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62872/k0nw0m48Keywords:
children under five, malnutrition, nutritional status, public health, risk factorsAbstract
Nutritional status of children under five is a key indicator of public health and reflects the quality of human resource development. Malnutrition among under-five children remains prevalent in many communities and is influenced by multifactorial determinants. This study aimed to analyze factors influencing the nutritional status of children under five using a quantitative analytic approach. An observational analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 240 children and their mothers or caregivers. Data were collected using anthropometric measurements and structured questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. The results revealed that household socioeconomic status, feeding practices, maternal education, and sanitation conditions were significantly associated with children’s nutritional status. Multivariate analysis identified household socioeconomic status as the most dominant factor affecting nutritional status, followed by feeding practices and maternal education. These findings indicate that child malnutrition is not solely related to individual behavioral factors but is also strongly influenced by broader socioeconomic and environmental conditions. This study highlights the need for integrated, community-based, and evidence-driven nutrition interventions that address social, economic, and environmental determinants simultaneously.
Downloads
References
1) Abua, E., Ndep, A., George, N., Edet, B., Okoi, E., Lonn, H., Ogben, C., Forje, G., Awa, T., & Ugbe, M. (2025). Factors and determinants of malnutrition among under-five children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Africa: a systematic review. BMC Nutrition, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01131-0.
2) Alvear-Vega, S., & Vargas-Garrido, H. (2022). Social determinants of malnutrition in Chilean children aged up to five. BMC Public Health, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12455-4.
3) Amare, Z., Ahmed, M., & Mehari, A. (2019). Determinants of nutritional status among children under age 5 in Ethiopia: further analysis of the 2016 Ethiopia demographic and health survey. Globalization and Health, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-019-0505-7.
4) Damayanti, S., Ekawati, D., Suryani, L., & Zaman, C. (2025). Factor Analysis of The Incidence of Stunting in Children Under Five. Lentera Perawat. https://doi.org/10.52235/lp.v6i1.401.
5) Dassie, G., Fantaye, T., Charkos, T., Erba, M., & Tolosa, F. (2024). Factors influencing concurrent wasting, stunting, and underweight among children under five who suffered from severe acute malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1452963.
6) De Oliveira, M., Santos, E., De Macedo Bernardino, Í., & Pedraza, D. (2022). [Factors associated with nutritional status of children under five years old from Paraíba, Brazil].. Ciencia & saude coletiva, 27 2, 711-724 . https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232022272.46652020.
7) Gebreegziabher, T., & Sidibe, S. (2024). Determinants of household-, maternal- and child-related factors associated with nutritional status among children under five in Mali: evidence from a Demographic and Health Survey, 2018. Public Health Nutrition, 27. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980024000363.
8) Jaleel, A., Saha, S., Arlappa, N., Banerjee, M., Chaudhuri, S., Mondal, M., Sreeramakrishna, K., & Babu, R. (2025). Nutritional Status of Children Under Five Years in the Slums of West Bengal, India: A Cross-Sectional Study on Prevalence, Characteristics, and Determinants. Nutrients, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17050853.
9) Malabanan, L., & Miguel, E. (2025). Prevalence of Malnutrition and Its Risk Factors among Under-Five Children. Journal of Public Health Sciences. https://doi.org/10.56741/jphs.v4i01.813.
10) Menalu, M., Bayleyegn, A., Tizazu, M., & Amare, N. (2021). Assessment of Prevalence and Factors Associated with Malnutrition Among Under-Five Children in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia. International Journal of General Medicine, 14, 1683 - 1697. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijgm.s307026.
11) Mkhize, M., & Sibanda, M. (2020). A Review of Selected Studies on the Factors Associated with the Nutrition Status of Children Under the Age of Five Years in South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17217973.
12) Ndovie, P., Nkhata, S., Geresomo, N., Fungo, R., Nyau, V., & Munthali, J. (2025). Socio-economic and demographic determinants of undernutrition among 6–59 months old children living in Malawian stunting hotspots: a cross-sectional community study. BMC Nutrition, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01001-9.
13) Niyitegeka, L., & Habimana, A. (2025). Prevalence and Factors Associated with Undernutrition Among Under Five Years’ Children Attending Health Centers in Rulindo District, Rwanda.. Global Journal of Health Ethics. https://doi.org/10.63101/gjhe.v1i2.014.
14) Nshimyiryo, A., Hedt-Gauthier, B., Mutaganzwa, C., Kirk, C., Beck, K., Ndayisaba, A., Mubiligi, J., Kateera, F., & El-Khatib, Z. (2019). Risk factors for stunting among children under five years: a cross-sectional population-based study in Rwanda using the 2015 Demographic and Health Survey. BMC Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6504-z.
15) Nyirenda, H., Mulenga, D., & Nyambe-Silavwe, H. (2025). Contextual determinates of under-five malnutrition in mining communities: a critical review of nutrition interventions for optimal impact. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1482200.
16) Sarwono, A. E., & Handayani, A. (2021). Metode kuantitatif. Unisri Press.
17) Setiawati, A., Arda, D., Nordianiwati, N., Tyarini, I., & Indryani, I. (2023). Factors associated with nutritional status in children under five. Jurnal Edukasi Ilmiah Kesehatan. https://doi.org/10.61099/junedik.v1i3.24.
18) Setyawan, F., & Lestari, R. (2021). Holistic-comprehensive approaches to improve nutritional status of children under five years. Journal of Public Health Research, 10. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.2183.
19) Sunday, F., Ilinde, D., Rudatinya, P., Kwizera, P., Kanimba, P., Rutayisire, R., & Umugwaneza, M. (2024). Factors affecting nutritional status among children aged below five years in Rwanda’s Western and Southern Provinces. BMC Public Health, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19451-4.
20) Wali, N., Agho, K., & Renzaho, A. (2020). Factors Associated with Stunting among Children under 5 Years in Five South Asian Countries (2014–2018): Analysis of Demographic Health Surveys. Nutrients, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123875.
21) Wand, H., Moodley, J., Naidoo, S., & Govender, V. (2025). Population‐Level Impact of Risk Factors on Stunting Among Children Under Five in Sub‐Saharan Africa (2015–2022). Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 114, 2665 - 2674. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70161.
22) Worku, M., Mohanty, I., Mengesha, Z., & Niyonsenga, T. (2025). Risk Factors of Standalone and Coexisting Forms of Undernutrition Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study Using Data from 26 Country-Based Demographic and Health Surveys. Nutrients, 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020252.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Inaya Nur Aini, Isah Fitriani, Tri Budi Rahayu (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
