<![CDATA[Background: One of the nutritional issues arising in toddlers due to inadequate nutrient intake is wasting. Toddlers who experience wasting have relatively thin bodies compared to their height, characterized by a weight-for-height z-score of less than -2 SD. Exclusive breastfeeding is one of the contributing factors to wasting. Purpose: To analyze the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and wasting among toddlers. Method: Quantitative research with a cross-sectional design using secondary data. The study population was all toddlers aged 0-23 months in the Talaud Islands Regency who were included in the census block based on the 2022 SSGI. Data analysis used univariate and bivariate analysis. Results: Based on univariate analysis, toddlers who experienced wasting were 13.1%, toddlers who received colostrum were 88.7%, and those who received exclusive breastfeeding were 56.1%. Based on the bivariate test, the history of colostrum administration with wasting incidents obtained a p value = 0.000 (<0.05) which indicated a relationship between the two variables. Conclusion: Wasting is influenced by various factors including nutritional intake, history of infectious diseases, and completeness of immunization. In addition, colostrum and exclusive breastfeeding have a significant relationship with wasting incidents. Lack of maternal knowledge and family support are also factors that influence the provision of breast milk and colostrum, so increasing education and family support is very important to reduce the prevalence of thinness in toddlers. Keywords: Colostrum; Exclusive Breasting Feeding; Toddlers; Wasting. Pendahuluan: Salah satu masalah gizi yang timbul pada balita dari asupan nutrisi yang tidak memadai adalah wasting. Balita yang menderita wasting akan memiliki tubuh yang relatif kurus dibandingkan dengan tinggi badannya ditandai dengan z-score BB/TB -2 SD. Pemberian ASI eksklusif merupakan salah satu faktor penyebab terjadinya wasting. Tujuan: Untuk menganalisis hubungan pemberian ASI eksklusif dan wasting pada balita. Metode: Penelitian kuantitatif desain cross sectional menggunakan data sekunder. Populasi penelitian adalah seluruh balita usia 0-23 bulan di Kabupaten Kepulauan Talaud yang masuk dalam blok sensus berdasarkan SSGI 2022. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis univariat dan bivariat. Hasil: Berdasarkan analisis univariat, balita yang mengalami kejadian wasting sebesar 13.1%, balita yang mendapatkan kolostrum 88.7%, dan yang mendapatkan ASI eksklusif 56.1%. Berdasarkan uji bivariat, riwayat pemberian kolostrum dengan kejadian wasting memperoleh nilai p = 0.000 (<0.05), menunjukkan adanya hubungan antara kedua variabel. Simpulan: Wasting dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor, termasuk asupan nutrisi, riwayat penyakit infeksi, dan kelengkapan imunisasi. Selain itu, pemberian kolostrum dan ASI eksklusif memiliki hubungan signifikan dengan kejadian wasting. Kurangnya pengetahuan ibu dan dukungan keluarga juga menjadi faktor yang memengaruhi pemberian ASI dan kolostrum, sehingga peningkatan edukasi dan dukungan keluarga sangat penting untuk mengurangi prevalensi wasting pada balita. Kata Kunci: ASI Eksklusif; Balita; Kolostrum; Wasting.]]>
