IDAI: Stunting Can Be Detected Early Through Growth Charts

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has reminded the public that the risk of stunting can be detected earlier through routine monitoring of a child’s growth using the World Health Organization (WHO) standard growth curves.

This means intervention can be carried out immediately before growth impairment develops into something more severe.

Paediatrician and member of IDAI’s Coordinating Working Unit (UKK) for Growth and Development and Social Paediatrics, Dr dr I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani, Sp.A., Subsp. T.K.P.S.(K), said growth monitoring is an ongoing process that includes measuring, recording, plotting and interpreting the results of regular measurements of weight, length or height, and head circumference.

According to her, the first two years of life are a crucial period because they determine the quality of a child’s growth and development. By the age of two, brain development has reached about 80 per cent, rising to 85 per cent at age three and around 95 per cent at age six.

For this reason, growth deviations need to be recognised as early as possible so that management, nutritional fulfilment, stimulation, or referral can be provided promptly according to the child’s needs.

“Initially, it is indeed underweight first. Weight faltering first,” she said.

Trisna explained that stunting does not occur suddenly. The condition generally begins with a slowdown in weight gain, followed by the child’s weight falling below normal, or becoming underweight.

Furthermore, Trisna emphasised that assessing a child’s growth cannot be done only once; it must look at growth trends over time. Parents can use the WHO standard growth curves available in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (KIA) to monitor their child’s growth regularly.

The WHO standard growth curve is a global reference chart for monitoring the growth and development of children aged 0–5 years based on indicators of weight, length or height, and body mass index. The curve uses Z-scores (standard deviations) to assess whether a child’s nutritional status is normal, deficient, or excessive.