<![CDATA[This study is motivated by the high prevalence of stunting among early childhood, which has significant impacts on physical growth, cognitive development, and the quality of human resources in the future. The objective of this study is to analyze the factors causing stunting among early childhood in Wawowae Village. This research employed a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. The research subjects consisted of parents of stunted children and Posyandu cadres selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. Data analysis was conducted using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, and was validated through source and technique triangulation. The results show that stunting is caused by several main factors, including inadequate nutritional intake characterized by limited food variety and low consumption of animal protein, suboptimal parenting practices in managing children’s eating schedules and assistance, and socio-economic conditions that limit the ability to provide nutritious food. In addition, environmental factors such as sanitation are not the primary cause, although some hygiene practices are still not optimal. This study confirms that stunting is a multidimensional problem that requires integrated interventions through improving parental nutrition literacy and optimizing the use of local food resources. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh tingginya kasus stunting pada anak usia dini yang berdampak pada pertumbuhan fisik, perkembangan kognitif, dan kualitas sumber daya manusia di masa depan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor penyebab stunting pada anak usia dini di Desa Wawowae. Metode yang digunakan adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas orang tua anak stunting dan kader Posyandu yang dipilih secara purposive sampling. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi, wawancara mendalam, dan dokumentasi. Analisis data menggunakan model Miles, Huberman, dan Saldana yang meliputi reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan, serta diuji melalui triangulasi sumber dan teknik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa stunting disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor utama, yaitu rendahnya asupan gizi yang ditandai dengan kurangnya variasi makanan dan konsumsi protein hewani, pola asuh yang belum optimal dalam pengaturan jadwal makan dan pendampingan anak, serta kondisi sosial ekonomi keluarga yang membatasi kemampuan dalam menyediakan makanan bergizi. Selain itu, faktor lingkungan seperti sanitasi tidak menjadi penyebab utama, meskipun masih ditemukan perilaku hidup bersih yang belum optimal. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa stunting merupakan masalah multidimensional yang memerlukan intervensi terpadu melalui peningkatan literasi gizi orang tua dan pemanfaatan sumber pangan lokal.]]>
