Abstract:
Stunting or stunted nutritional status is a form of malnutrition according to WHO 2005
reference of standard deviation. Stunting can be assessed by measuring the value of height to age, characterized
by stunted height growth. Caries is a tooth disease which starts with initial demineralization process. Stunting
can increase the risk of caries because it also impairs functions of saliva as buffer, cleanser, anti-solvent, and
oral anti bacterial substance. Purpose: This study in kindergarten children at Kecamatan Kertak Hanyar
Kabupaten Banjar aimed to assess the relationship between stunted nutritional status (stunting) and number of
caries. Methods: This study used an analytic observational with cross sectional approach. Samples were chosen
using purposive sampling, amounted to 60 children and divided into two groups (30 children per group) of
stunted nutritional status group and normal nutritional status group as comparison. Results: Caries index
observation resulted in the value of 8,23 for stunted nutritional status group, which is higher than normal
nutritional status group’s 3,3. Chi-square statistic analysis with confidence interval of 95% presented p value =
0,000 (p < 0,05) and indicated that there was a significant difference of caries index between stunted nutritional
status group and normal nutritional status group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that there was a significant
relation between stunted nutritional status (stunting) and number of caries in kindergarten children at
Kecamatan Kertak Hanyar Kabupaten Banjar.
