Household Food Insecurity as a Predictor of Stunted Children and Overweight/Obese Mothers (SCOWT) in Urban Indonesia

Abstract

(1) Background: The double burden of malnutrition has been increasing in countries experiencing the nutrition transition. This study aimed to determine the relationship between household food insecurity and the double burden of malnutrition, defined as within-household stunted child and an overweight/obese mother (SCOWT). (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the urban city of Surabaya, Indonesia in April and May 2015. (3) Results: The prevalence of child stunting in urban Surabaya was 36.4%, maternal overweight/obesity was 70.2%, and SCOWT was 24.7%. Although many households were food secure (42%), there were high proportions of mild (22.9%), moderate (15.3%) and severe (19.7%) food insecurity. In a multivariate logistic regression, the household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) category significantly correlated with child stunting and SCOWT. Compared to food secure households, mildly food insecure households had the greatest odds of SCOWT (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.789; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.540–5.083), followed by moderately food insecure (aOR = 2.530; 95% CI = 1.286–4.980) and severely food insecure households (aOR = 2.045; 95% CI = 1.087–3.848). (4) Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that the double burden of malnutrition is related to food insecurity, and the HFIAS category is a predictor of SCOWT.

Stunting Was Associated with Reported Morbidity, Parental Education and Socioeconomic Status in 0.5–12-Year-Old Indonesian Children

“…Studies conducted in Iran and Bangladesh [ 23 , 28 ] indicated that limited access to community health services in remote areas with difficult or no access to clean water for drinking and bathing are most common in rural areas and these are enhancing risk factors for stunting [ 2 , 25 ]. On the contrary, the higher SES group more likely to have better food security in their families [ 10 ]. As a consequence, children could provide meals better in quantitively and qualitatively [ 10 ].…”

“…On the contrary, the higher SES group more likely to have better food security in their families [ 10 ]. As a consequence, children could provide meals better in quantitively and qualitatively [ 10 ]. Moreover, a low-quality living environment, as often found in poor education families with low income, in addition to low-quality food and repeated episodes of illnesses may reduce immunity, which in turn may result in higher vulnerability—especially for diarrhea, respiratory diseases and infection diseases [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…As such, socioeconomic status (SES) is an important factor in the etiology of stunting. Not only will the lower SES have less access to quality food and food security [ 10 ], but the hygiene and infectious diseases are more likely to strike in poverty situations [ 11 ]. Accordingly, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of factors associated with stunting in Indonesia.…”

The relationship between maternal food insecurity, fetal and postnatal growth: findings from the South African National Income Dynamics Study

“…In this sample, 163 (11.3%) of children who were stunted had overweight or obese mothers. This phenomenon, whereby stunted children and overweight or obese mothers reside within the same household highlights the double burden of malnutrition that are particularly prevalent in countries undergoing a nutrition transition (34).…”

The relationship between antenatal food insecurity, fetal and postnatal growth: findings from the South African National Income Dynamics Study

“…Furthermore, 163 (11.3%) of children who were stunted had overweight or obese mothers. This phenomenon, whereby stunted children and overweight or obese mothers reside within the same household highlights the double burden of malnutrition that are particularly prevalent in countries undergoing a nutrition transition (35).…”