The Effect of Low Birth Weight Incidence toward Stunting and Developmental Disorders of Toddlers

Abstract

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a condition in babies, which occurs when the bodyweight is < 2500 grams. Furthermore, it poses more threat to toddlers under the age of 2 years where it causes several developmental and growth disorders, such as stunting. Their condition continues to worsen up to the age of 5 when their immune system is not improved. Stunting is characterized by shortness and can be diagnosed based on the anthropometric index of the body length for age (PB/U) or height for age (TB/U) with a limit (z-score) below the standard deviation (< -2 SD). Method: The data used for this study consists of primary and secondary data. The primary data were collected using an interview approach by filling a questionnaire, while the secondary data were obtained with a KMS (Card towards Health) book for toddlers with a total of 107 samples. Result: The results showed that LBW has a significant effect on stunting, but it has no effect on developmental disorders. It also has a significant effect through stunting on developmental disorders, but it has no effect on stunting through developmental disorders.