Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 14(5), pp. 825 - 834
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140501
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Factors Related to Underweight among Children Aged 6-11 Months in Indonesia

Irwan Budiono ^1,*, Lukman Fauzi ², Maulina Istighfaroh ², Azizah Sabilla Yasari ², Dewi Sari Rochmayani ^3
1 Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
² Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
³ Department of Optometry, Universitas Widya Husada, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Undernutrition, including underweight, is a global health problem in Indonesia. Until 2022, the prevalence of underweight children in Indonesia continued to increase. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sociodemographic, dietary, and health service factors and the incidence of underweight among children aged 6-11 months in Indonesia. This study utilized a quantitative approach, employing an observational analytical method with a retrospective cohort design. The instrument was a standardized questionnaire from the 2021 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (Survey Status Gizi Indonesia/SSGI). A total of 28,410 children aged 6-11 months were used as participants. This study employed univariate, bivariate (chi-square), and multivariate (binary logistic regression) analyses. Variables that strongly contributed to the prevalence of underweight among children aged 6-11 months were sex (aOR=1.55), mother's education (no education vs. higher education aOR=1.46, elementary school vs. higher education aOR=1.24), mother's working status (aOR=1.16), type of residence (aOR=1.11), household size (aOR=1.13), birth weight (aOR=3.37), consumption of other fruits and vegetables (aOR=1.21), meat consumption (aOR=1.21), and immunization completeness (aOR=1.24). Birth weight was the variable with the strongest contribution to the prevalence of underweight among children aged 6-11 months [p-value: <0.001; aOR: 3.37 (2.96-3.83); Wald: 343.34]. This study indicates that factors associated with underweight among children aged 6-11 months in Indonesia require further attention. The results of this study can be used to support the development of recommendations for creating policies to address the issue of underweight in Indonesia.

KEYWORDS
Underweight, Children, Indonesia, Sociodemographic, Dietary, Health Services

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Irwan Budiono , Lukman Fauzi , Maulina Istighfaroh , Azizah Sabilla Yasari , Dewi Sari Rochmayani , "Factors Related to Underweight among Children Aged 6-11 Months in Indonesia," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 825 - 834, 2026. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140501.

(b). APA Format:
Irwan Budiono , Lukman Fauzi , Maulina Istighfaroh , Azizah Sabilla Yasari , Dewi Sari Rochmayani (2026). Factors Related to Underweight among Children Aged 6-11 Months in Indonesia. Universal Journal of Public Health, 14(5), 825 - 834. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2026.140501.