A study of 225 working mothers in Indonesia found that two main factors help prevent stunting (when children don’t grow tall enough for their age): how well the mother feels overall and how much she knows about preventing stunting. Mothers with better wellbeing were 3.3 times more likely to take steps to prevent stunting, while mothers with good knowledge were 2.8 times more likely. This research highlights that supporting working mothers’ mental health and teaching them about child nutrition could significantly improve children’s growth and development.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What helps working mothers take better care of their young children’s growth and nutrition to prevent stunting
  • Who participated: 225 working mothers aged 18 and older with at least one child under 5 years old from 6 cities in West Java, Indonesia
  • Key finding: Mothers with better wellbeing were 3.3 times more likely and those with good stunting knowledge were 2.8 times more likely to practice good stunting prevention
  • What it means for you: If you’re a working parent, focusing on your own wellbeing and learning about child nutrition may help your child grow better, though this study was done in a specific region

The Research Details

Researchers surveyed 225 working mothers across 78 offices in six different cities and regions in West Java, Indonesia. They asked detailed questions about the mothers’ knowledge of stunting prevention, their attitudes toward child care, how stressed they felt at work, their overall wellbeing, and what specific actions they took to prevent stunting in their children. The mothers all had to be at least 18 years old, work and live in the study areas, and have at least one child under 5 years old. The researchers then used statistical tests to see which factors were most strongly connected to good stunting prevention behaviors.

This cross-sectional design gives us a snapshot of what’s happening right now with working mothers and their child care practices. It’s particularly valuable because it’s the first study in Indonesia to specifically look at working mothers and stunting prevention, addressing a real-world challenge many families face when parents need to work but also want to ensure their children grow properly.

The study included a good variety of locations and a reasonable number of participants for this type of research. However, since it only looked at one point in time rather than following families over months or years, it can show connections between factors but can’t prove that improving wellbeing or knowledge will definitely lead to better outcomes.

What the Results Show

Out of 19 different factors the researchers examined, only two stood out as truly important for predicting whether working mothers would take good care of their children’s nutrition and growth. The first was the mother’s overall wellbeing - how good she felt physically and emotionally. Mothers with better wellbeing were 3.3 times more likely to engage in behaviors that prevent stunting. The second factor was knowledge about stunting prevention. Mothers who knew more about how to prevent stunting were 2.8 times more likely to actually do the right things to help their children grow properly. These two factors appeared to work together, suggesting that both feeling good and knowing what to do are important for taking good care of children.

Interestingly, many other factors that researchers thought might be important - like work stress levels, specific attitudes, or various demographic characteristics - didn’t show strong connections to stunting prevention behaviors. This suggests that wellbeing and knowledge are particularly crucial, possibly more so than other factors like how stressful a mother’s job is or her specific background.

This is the first study in Indonesia to specifically focus on working mothers and stunting prevention, so there isn’t much previous research to compare it to directly. However, it aligns with broader research showing that maternal knowledge and wellbeing are important for child health outcomes. The focus on working mothers addresses a gap in understanding how employment affects a mother’s ability to prevent stunting in her children.

Since this study only looked at one point in time, we can’t be sure that improving wellbeing or knowledge will actually lead to better stunting prevention - we just know they’re connected. The study was also done only in one province of Indonesia, so the results might not apply to working mothers in other countries or regions. Additionally, the researchers relied on mothers reporting their own behaviors, which might not always be completely accurate.

The Bottom Line

Working mothers may benefit from focusing on two key areas: maintaining their own wellbeing and learning about proper child nutrition and growth. Programs that support working mothers’ mental and physical health while also providing education about preventing stunting could be particularly effective. However, these recommendations are based on one study in a specific region.

This research is most relevant for working mothers with young children, especially those in similar economic and cultural contexts. Healthcare providers, employers, and policymakers who work with working families should also pay attention to these findings when designing support programs.

The study doesn’t provide information about how quickly improvements in wellbeing or knowledge might lead to better child outcomes. Since stunting develops over time, especially in the first 1000 days of life, early and consistent attention to these factors is likely most important.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily wellbeing score (1-10) and log one new thing you learned about child nutrition each week
  • Set aside 10 minutes daily for self-care activities and 15 minutes weekly to read about child nutrition and growth milestones
  • Monitor your child’s growth measurements monthly while tracking your own stress levels and nutrition knowledge to see patterns over time

This research was conducted in a specific region of Indonesia and may not apply to all populations. Always consult with your pediatrician or healthcare provider for personalized advice about your child’s growth and nutrition needs.