According to the Indonesian Nutritional Status Study (SSGI), in 2021, 20.9% of children under five years old (toddlers) in Central Java experienced stunting.
This means that approximately 1 in 5 toddlers in Central Java experienced stunting, a growth disorder.
Of the 34 regencies/cities in Central Java, 14 had a higher proportion of stunted toddlers than the provincial average. The remaining 21 regencies/cities had a prevalence below the provincial average.
Wonosobo Regency had the highest prevalence of stunted toddlers in Central Java, reaching 28.1%. This was followed by Tegal Regency at 28%, and Brebes Regency at 26.3%.
Grobogan Regency had the lowest prevalence of stunted toddlers in the province, at only 9.6%. This was followed by Magelang City with a prevalence of 13.3%, and Wonogiri Regency at 14%.
Nationally, the prevalence of stunted toddlers reached 24.4% in 2021. This figure is down from 27.69% in 2019. The government also aims to reduce the number of stunted toddlers to 14% by the end of 2024.
Stunting is a condition where a child experiences growth problems, resulting in a height below the average for their age.
Stunting is also an indicator of a toddler's failure to thrive due to chronic malnutrition or recurrent infections during the first 1,000 days of life, from the fetal stage to 23 months of age.