Pressure to eat is the most determinant factor of stunting in children under 5 years of age in Kerinci region, Indonesia

Objective: This multivariate study was conducted to identify the determining factors of the stunting incidence in the Kerinci region. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. The sample comprised 290 children selected by the cluster random sampling method. Data analysis was conducted through chi-square, Mann–Whitney, and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of stunting in the Kerinci region was 46.9%. Bivariate analysis showed a relationship between the incidence of stunting and gender (p = 0.019), history of exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.038), eating restriction (p = 0.038), pressure to eat (p = 0.009), and desire to drink (p = 0.049). Somewhat similarly, the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the factors related to the incidence of stunting in children under five were gender, history of exclusive breastfeeding, economic status, eating restriction, and pressure to eat. That said, the factor most associated with the incidence of stunting was the pressure to eat. Conclusion: The provision of a nursing care plan for reducing stunting in children can be accomplished by increasing exclusive breastfeeding efforts as well as by focusing on the feeding efforts of parents and improving good eating behaviors in children.