Maternal Age Under 20 and Over 35 Increases Stunting Risk in Children by 6.2 Times

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FORMOSA NEWS - Timor Tengah Selatan - A recent study conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI) reveals a significant link between maternal age during pregnancy and the incidence of stunting in children under five. The research team, consisting of Wiradi Suryanegara, Audrye Henderikha Keke Liu, and Nia Reviani, evaluated secondary medical record data at the Noebeba Public Health Center in South Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The findings show that women who become pregnant at high-risk ages — specifically under 20 or over 35 years old — face a 6.256-times higher risk of giving birth to a stunted child compared to mothers within the optimal reproductive age range of 20–35 years. These results highlight the crucial need for optimal pregnancy planning and maternal nutrition education in regions carrying a heavy stunting burden.

At the national level, childhood stunting in Indonesia has shown a gradual overall reduction; however, the decline remains unevenly distributed, with eastern provinces such as East Nusa Tenggara continuing to report high prevalence rates. Stunting represents a chronic linear growth restriction caused by long-term nutritional deficiencies, typically originating within the First 1,000 Days of Life. Its consequences extend far beyond short stature, impairing cognitive, motor, academic, and economic capabilities in adulthood.

In this study published in 2026, the researchers employed an observational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. Secondary data were gathered from 200 mother-child medical records (for children aged 0–59 months) registered at the Noebeba Public Health Center between 2022 and 2024. Maternal age during pregnancy was categorized into non-risk (20–35 years) and at-risk (<20 or >35 years) groups, which were then analyzed against child stunting status using WHO height-for-age z-score standards.

Key findings of the research include:

• Distribution of High-Risk Pregnancies: Among the 200 mothers analyzed, half (50% or 100 individuals) belonged to the high-risk age category, with 25.5% pregnant at under 20 years and 24.5% pregnant at over 35 years.
• Prevalence of Stunting: A total of 81 children (40.5%) were identified as stunted, while 119 children (59.5%) exhibited normal growth.
• Maternal Age Correlation: Out of the 81 stunting cases, 61 occurred in children born to mothers in the at-risk age group (<20 or >35 years). In contrast, only 20 children born to mothers aged 20–35 years were stunted.
• Statistical Risk (Odds Ratio): Chi-square analysis yielded a statistically significant result (p-value = 0.001) with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 6.256 (95% CI: 3.320–11.791). This confirms that mothers in the at-risk age group have 6.256 times higher odds of having a stunted child compared to mothers aged 20–35 years.

The researchers explained that pregnancies under the age of 20 often lead to nutritional competition between the growing young mother and the developing fetus. Furthermore, incomplete reproductive organ maturity and limited childcare knowledge contribute to an elevated risk of low birth weight. Conversely, pregnancies over the age of 35 are susceptible to age-related physiological changes and maternal complications (such as hypertension or anemia) that can restrict placental function and nutrient transfer.

"These findings demonstrate that maternal age during pregnancy is an important maternal factor associated with child growth," the research team noted in their report. They stressed the necessity of strengthening reproductive health screening, preconception counseling, antenatal care (ANC), and education on exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices for vulnerable groups to break the cycle of stunting at the primary healthcare level.

Author Profiles

• Wiradi Suryanegara, S.Ked., M.Si. — Lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI), specializing in basic medical sciences, public health, and maternal nutrition.
• Audrye Henderikha Keke Liu, S.Ked. — Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI), focusing on maternal and child health and nutritional epidemiology.
• Nia Reviani, dr., MAPS. — Lecturer and academician at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI), with expertise in public health management, health policy, and maternal and child protection.

Research Source

Suryanegara, W., Liu, A. H. K., & Reviani, N. (2026). The Association between Maternal Age During Pregnancy and the Incidence of Stunting among Children Under Five at Noebeba Public Health Center, Noebeba District, South Central Timor, 2022-2024. Indonesian Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), Vol. 5, No. 9, pp. 1699–1714.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ijar.v5i9.17289

Link: https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ijar