Epidemiology and Society Health Review (ESHR)
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026)

Healthcare Access and Regional Inequalities as Determinants of Childhood Stunting in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: A Systematic Review

Arif Andriyanto (RSGM UGM Prof. Soedomo, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
Ardian S. Leky (Adicita Swara Publika, Indonesian Family Planning Association, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 Jul 2026

Abstract

Background: Stunting remains a major public health problem in Indonesia, particularly in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, which has the highest prevalence of stunting nationally. The high incidence of stunting in NTT is influenced not only by inadequate nutrition but also by limited access to health services, clean water, and sanitation, as well as socioeconomic and development disparities between regions. Method: This study employed a systematic review method following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic literature search was conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, and Garuda databases using the keywords "stunting," "access to health services," "regional inequality," and "East Nusa Tenggara." A total of 1,653 articles were found in the initial search phase, and 12 met the criteria for further analysis. Results: The study results show that stunting in East Nusa Tenggara is closely related to various multidimensional factors, including limited access to sanitation and clean water, minimal health care facilities, geographic isolation, poverty, and inequality between rural and urban areas. Conclusion: Stunting in East Nusa Tenggara is a multidimensional problem. Therefore, efforts to address stunting in NTT require an integrated, cross-sectoral approach that emphasizes equitable access to health services, improved sanitation, clean water provision, poverty alleviation, and region-based development.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

eshr

Publisher

Subject

Public Health

Description

Epidemiology and Society Health Review (ESHR) is aims to communicate research in the field of epidemiology and community health by publishing papers in high-quality science. This journal publishes an article in the field of epidemiology of the communicable disease, epidemiology of non-communicable ...