Analysis of fathers' support based on maternal perceptions through stunting incidence in toddler at coastal areas

Background: Stunting is a children's health problem that has not been completely resolved, especially in the coastal areas of Surabaya. Children's health problems are influenced by family support, one of them is father, but the research on fathers' support in the coastal areas of Surabaya is still limited. This study aims to analyze the support of fathers related to stunting in toddlers. Method: The research method used was observational analytic using a cross-sectional approach. The population was all children under three years old in the coastal area village of Surabaya. The number of samples was 105 children with a consecutive sampling technique. The independent variable was the father's (informational, instrumental, judgment, and emotional) support. The dependent variable is the stunting event. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. Data analysis used the Chi-Square test. Result: The research data showed that informational support and assessment did not have a relationship with the incidence of stunting with a value of p = 0.502 and 0.291, while instrumental support and emotional support had a significant relationship with the incidence of stunting, the value of p = 0,000 and 0.002. Conclusion: The results showed that instrumental support and emotional support from fathers influenced the incidence of stunting in toddlers. The recommendation for further research is to develop interventions to increase the father's instrumental and emotional support.