Evidence Mapping of Low Birth Weight and Stunting Association: A Holistic Scoping Review (2022–2024)
Keywords:
low birth weight, stunting, child growth, malnutrition, scoping review
Abstract
Stunting and low birth weight (LBW) are significant public health challenges that have a global impact on infant development. It is imperative to comprehend the correlation between LBW defined as a birth weight below 2,500 grams and subsequent stunting in order to develop targeted interventions that enhance the health outcomes of children. The objective of this scoping review was to systematically map and integrate the findings regarding the association between stunting incidence in children under five and LBW, utilizing literature published between 2022 and 2024. We conducted a search of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciSpace from January 2022 to October 2024 in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A particular emphasis was placed on Indonesian journals that were ranked Sinta. The criteria were satisfied by twenty-seven studies, which included meta-analyses, systematic reviews, case-control studies, facility base studies, and national surveys. Meta-analytic data indicated that the likelihood of stunting was 2.19-2.42 times higher in children who were underweight 2.19 to 2.42 (95% CI: 1.77-3.15).. National survey analyses from Bangladesh, India, and Zambia confirm this association with adjusted odds ratios between 1.19 and 3.24. Facility-based studies report even stronger associations (OR: 10.9, 95% CI: 5.85-20.30). The relation was consistently supported by Indonesian studies, with odds ratios ranging from 1.76 to 3.95. Integrated interventions addressing maternal nutrition, antenatal care quality, and early childhood nutrition are essential for breaking the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition.
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References
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Zakaria, M. A., Kustanto, K., Nur Pratiwi, I., Arifin, H., Phiri, D., Soares, A., & Kumpeera, K. (2024). Determinant of stunting among children under-five years: A nationwide study in Zambia. The Journal of Palembang Nursing Studies. https://doi.org/10.55048/jpns109
Aisyah Putri, T., Anindita Salsabilla, D., & Kurniawan Saputra, R. (2021). The Effect of Low Birth Weight on Stunting in Children Under Five: A Meta Analysis. Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 04, 496–506. https://doi.org/10.26911/thejmch
Cuartas, J., McCoy, D., Sánchez, J., Behrman, J., Cappa, C., Donati, G., Heymann, J., Lu, C., Raikes, A., Rao, N., Richter, L., Stein, A., & Yoshikawa, H. (2023). Family play, reading, and other stimulation and early childhood development in five low-and-middle-income countries. Developmental Science, 26(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13404
Dinda Syafira Agitha, Santun Bhekti Rahimah, & Dicky Santosa. (2024). Hubungan Berat Badan Lahir Rendah dengan Kejadian Stunting pada Balita di Kecamatan Padalarang Kabupaten Bandung Barat. Bandung Conference Series: Medical Science, 4(1), 290–296. https://doi.org/10.29313/bcsms.v4i1.10754
Ejigu, H., & Tafese, Z. (2023). Stunting at birth: Linear growth failure at an early age among newborns in Hawassa city public health hospitals, Sidama region, Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study. Journal of Nutritional Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2023.46
Ernawati, R., Feriani, P., & Khosyi, N. D. (2022). The Relationship between LBW History and Genetic Factors with the Incidence of Stunting in Toddlers at Loa Ipuh Puskesmas, Tenggarong. 10(2). https://doi.org/10.30650/jik.v10i2.3507
Fauziyah, N. F., & Putri, A. S. (2023). Low birth weight and chronic energy deficiency in the mother lead to stunting: a case-control study. International Journal of Health Science and Technology, 4(3), 279–284. https://doi.org/10.31101/ijhst.v4i3.2913
González-Fernández, D., Muralidharan, O., Neves, P. A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2024). Associations of Maternal Nutritional Status and Supplementation with Fetal, Newborn, and Infant Outcomes in Low-Income and Middle-Income Settings: An Overview of Reviews. In Nutrients (Vol. 16, Issue 21). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213725
Halli, S. S., Biradar, R. A., & Prasad, J. B. (2022a). Low Birth Weight, the Differentiating Risk Factor for Stunting among Preschool Children in India. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073751
Halli, S. S., Biradar, R. A., & Prasad, J. B. (2022b). Low Birth Weight, the Differentiating Risk Factor for Stunting among Preschool Children in India. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073751
Headey, D., Heidkamp, R., Osendarp, S., Ruel, M., Scott, N., Black, R., Shekar, M., Bouis, H., Flory, A., Haddad, L., & Walker, N. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on childhood malnutrition and nutrition-related mortality. In The Lancet (Vol. 396, Issue 10250, pp. 519–521). Lancet Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31647-0
Jokhu, L. A., Syauqy, A., Lin, L.-Y., Dieny, F. F., & Rahadiyanti, A. (2024). Determinants of stunting among children 6–23 months: a population-based study in Indonesia. Nutrition & Food Science, 54(8), 1369–1382. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs-01-2024-0025
Khairil Sinatrya, A., & Muniroh, L. (2019). Hubungan Faktor Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) dengan Stunting di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Kotakulon, Kabupaten Bondowoso The Assosiation of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) factor with Stunting in Working Area of Puskesmas Kotakulon, Bondowoso District. Amerta Nutr, 164–170. https://doi.org/10.2473/amnt.v3i3.2019.164-170
Khasanah, D. P., Margawati, A., Rosidi, A., Rahfiludin, M. Z., & Noer, E. R. (2023). BERAT BADAN LAHIR RENDAH DAN PANJANG BADAN LAHIR SEBAGAI FAKTOR RISIKO STUNTING PADA ANAK USIA 9-23 BULAN DI INDONESIA [ANALISIS DATA RISET KESEHATAN DASAR TAHUN 2018] (LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND BIRTH LENGTH AS DETERMINING FACTORS FOR STUNTING CHILDREN AGED 9-23 MONTHS IN INDONESIA [ANALYSIS OF 2018 BASIC HEALTH RESEARCH DATA]). Penel Gizi Makan, 2023(2). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36457/pgm.v46i2.778
Maulana Arief, V., & Abdullah, F. (2025). HUBUNGAN PEMERIKSAAN ANTENATAL CARE DENGAN KEJADIAN BERAT BADAN LAHIR RENDAH DI RSUD MEURAXA BANDA ACEH. In Jurnal Medika Malahayati (Vol. 9, Issue 2).
Minister of Health Republic Indonesia. (2023). Survei Kesehatan Indonesia 2023.
Musaidah, M., Normalia, N., Irmayanti, A., & Noyumala, N. (2025). Predictive Effects of Immunization and Low Birth Weight on Stunting in Rural Indonesia: A Case Study from Selayar. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 8(8), 807–817. https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v8i8.7893
Picauly, I., Adi, A. A. A. M., Meiyetriani, E., Mading, M., Weraman, P., Nashriyah, S. F., Boeky, D. L. A., Lobo, V., Saleh, A., Peni, J. A., Hidayat, A. T., & Marni, M. (2024). Determinants of child stunting in the dryland area of East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia: insights from a national-level survey. Journal of Medicine and Life, 17(2), 147–156. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2023-0313
Rua, Y. M., Paula, M., & Nahak, M. (2024). Health Indicators for Accelerating Stunting Reduction: Family Practices in Indonesian Borderland. Journal of Maternal and Child Health, 01, 14–27. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.26911/thejmch.2024.09.01.02
Sa’adah, I. V. (2024). The Influence of Maternal and Child Characteristics with a History of Low Birth Weight (LBW) on Stunting Incidence in Toddlers in East Nusa Tenggara Province(Analysis of Riskesdas 2018 Data). https://doi.org/10.59141/jiss.v5i12.1534
Soliman, A., De Sanctis, V., Alaaraj, N., Ahmed, S., Alyafei, F., Hamed, N., & Soliman, N. (2021). Early and long-term consequences of nutritional stunting: From childhood to adulthood. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis, 92(1), e2021168.
Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team, V. P. of I. S. (2024). Strategi Nasional Percepatan dan Pencegahan Penurunan Stunting.
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O’Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., … Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. In Annals of Internal Medicine (Vol. 169, Issue 7, pp. 467–473). American College of Physicians. https://doi.org/10.7326/M18-0850
Vats, H., Walia, G. K., Saxena, R., Sachdeva, M. P., & Gupta, V. (2024). Association of low birth weight with the risk of childhood stunting in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neonatology, 121(2), 244–257. https://doi.org/10.1159/000532006
Wen, J., Zhao, Y., Xian, R., & Fan, X. (2025). Correlation between umbilical cord concentration of the growth hormone-IGF axis and small for gestational age: A single-center retrospective, observational study. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.70464
World Health Organization, United Nation Children Fund, & World Bank Group. (2023). Levels and trends in child malnutrition: UNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates: key findings of the 2023 edition. In Levels and trends in child malnutrition: UNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Group joint child malnutrition estimates: key findings of the 2023 edition.
World Health Organization, United Nation Children Fund, & World Bank Group. (2024). The UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates (JME) standard methodology: tracking progress on SDG Indicators 2.2. 1 on stunting, 2.2. 2 (1) on overweight and 2.2. 2 (2) on wasting. World Health Organization.
Wulandari, I., Eka Yulis, Z., Riska Romadhoni, R., Nofia Marta, P., Alifia, N., Maharani, T., & Rohmah, N. (2023). The Relationship between Sociodemographic Factors and Short Stature in Toddlers. https://doi.org/10.37036/ahnj.v*i
Zakaria, M. A., Kustanto, K., Nur Pratiwi, I., Arifin, H., Phiri, D., Soares, A., & Kumpeera, K. (2024). Determinant of stunting among children under-five years: A nationwide study in Zambia. The Journal of Palembang Nursing Studies. https://doi.org/10.55048/jpns109
Published
2025-11-28
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Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Abim Aufarizqi Ardiyanto, Komang Hendra Setiawan, Made Suadnyani Pasek
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