<![CDATA[Stunting remains a major public health problem and is one of the leading forms of chronic malnutrition affecting children worldwide. Its occurrence is associated with multiple factors, one of which is exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life. This study aimed to investigate the association between exclusive breastfeeding and stunting severity among preschool children in Mandalahaji Village, Pacet District, Bandung Regency, Indonesia. A quantitative correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. The study population consisted of 228 preschool children with stunting identified from secondary data provided by the Panca Community Health Center. Based on the Slovin formula with a 10% margin of error, a total of 70 respondents were selected using accidental sampling during data collection in July 2025 at several Integrated Health Service Posts (Posyandu) in Mandalahaji Village. Information on exclusive breastfeeding history was obtained through a structured questionnaire, whereas data on stunting severity were retrieved from secondary records maintained by the Panca Community Health Center. Frequency distributions and percentages were used to summarize exclusive breastfeeding status and stunting severity, while the association between the two variables was evaluated using the Chi-square test. Results: Of the 70 preschool children included in the study, 41 (58.6%) had not received exclusive breastfeeding. A statistically significant association with the severity of stunting was exhibited by exclusive breastfeeding, as evidenced through the Chi-square analysis (p = 0.005). Stunting severity among preschool children was found to be significantly influenced by exclusive breastfeeding. A markedly greater likelihood of being categorized as severely stunted was exhibited by children who had not been exclusively breastfed, in contrast to those who had received exclusive breastfeeding.]]>
