Association Between Birth Weight and Wasting in Children: A Case-Control Study

Authors

  • Citra Nur Indah Septiani Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang, Indonesia
  • Ratnawati Ratnawati Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang, Indonesia
  • Ulfah Dian Indrayani Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung, Semarang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v10i4.994

Keywords:

Low birth weight, wasting, under-five children, Indonesia

Abstract

Wasting is an acute malnutrition condition in children under five defined by WHZ <-2 SD. Low birth weight may increase wasting risk due to limited energy reserves and higher infection susceptibility. This study aimed to examine the relationship between birth weight and wasting among children aged 1–5 years in Genuk Primary Health Center, Semarang, Indonesia. This case-control study included 68 children aged 1–5 years in the Genuk Public Health Center area, Semarang, selected by total sampling. Birth weight data were obtained from MCH books/health records, while wasting status was determined using WHZ from e-PPGBM. The association was analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient test. The mean WHZ-score in the wasting group was found -2.29, while the mean WHZ-score in the non-wasting group was -0.33. The analysis of the relationship between birth weight and wasting incidence showed a p-value of 0.023 (i.e., p<0.05) and a Spearman correlation coefficient (r) of 0.275. Birth weight was found significantly associated with wasting among children aged 1–5 years in Genuk Public Health Center, Semarang, Indonesia, with a weak correlation.

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 10 No. 04 Oct’26 Page: 246-250

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Published

2026-08-30

How to Cite

Septiani, C. N. I., Ratnawati, R., & Indrayani, U. D. (2026). Association Between Birth Weight and Wasting in Children: A Case-Control Study. International Journal of Human and Health Sciences (IJHHS), 10(4), 246–250. https://doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v10i4.994

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2026)

Section

Original Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Citra Nur Indah Septiani

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