Smoking Behavior Worsens Stunting Prevalence in Indonesian Children: BKKBN

TheIndonesia.id - The National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) said smoking behavior is one of important risks factors that contributes to the concerning malnutrition rate in Indonesian children.

The 2021 Global Nutrirtion Report placed Indonesia in number 108 out of 132 countries on stunting prevalence, and deputy for training, research, and development at BKKBN Muhammad Rizal M. Damanik said the condition is worrying, and the contributing factors must be addressed.

“Indonesia ranked 108 out of 132 countries, which is ordered by children stunting prevalence, from the lowest to the highest,” Damanik said on Thursday, January 20, as reported by Antara.

According to him, mothers’ height is an important indication of their nutritional status. However, pregnant women who smoke or are exposed to cigarette smoke might face an issue related to the distribution of nutrition and oxygen to their babies.

Due to being exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy, pregnant women become passive smoker and can potentially experience stillbirth, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, or even death.

“On average, baby’s weight will be 71.6 grams lower and 16 percent more likely to have low birth weight. In fact, the baby is 51 percent more likely to be born smaller than average,” he said.

According to research conducted by the University of Indonesia and Imperial College London, the prevalence of passive smoker in Indonesian household reaches 78.4 percent, or higher than China (48.4 percent), Bangladesh (46.7 percent), and Thailand (46.7 percent).

Furthermore, cigarette consumption also impacts household expenses, in which mothers are forced to reduce the purchase of animal-based high-protein foods – even forcing families to fall into poverty faster.

Damanik said, therefore, education on the danger of cigarette is crucial in preventing families from potentially experiencing stunting and from impacting their health in general.