The Relationship Between Maternal Knowledge and the Incidence of Stunting in Toddlers in South Buton Regency in 2025

Stunting in toddlers is a significant public health problem because it impacts physical growth, cognitive development, and the quality of human resources in the future. Risk factors for stunting can be influenced by maternal knowledge, both during pregnancy and after childbirth. This study aims to determine the correlation between maternal knowledge and the incidence of stunting in toddlers in South Buton Regency. This study used an observational analytical case-control design with a sample of 188 respondents, consisting of 94 cases of stunted toddlers and 94 controls with normal nutrition, selected through purposive sampling. The results of statistical tests showed a significant relationship between maternal knowledge (p < 0.05) and the incidence of stunting in toddlers with a significance value of 0.000. This finding emphasizes the importance of improving maternal knowledge about nutrition to prevent stunting. This effort is necessary for optimal growth and development of toddlers, while also supporting the achievement of the national target of stunting reduction.