<![CDATA[Background: Short birth length increases the risk of stunting and long-term health problems; however, despite various interventions, the prevalence of short birth length and stunting at birth in Indonesia remains high. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the determinants of short birth length among Indonesian children using data from the 2022 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 223,741 children with available birth length information in the 2022 SSGI dataset. Complex sample logistic regression was performed, with short birth length (<48 cm) as the dependent variable and child, maternal, household, and health service characteristics as independent variables. Results: The prevalence of short birth length was 37.2%. Prematurity was the strongest risk factor (AOR=1.32; 95% CI: 1.28–1.37; p-value<0.001). Other significant risk factors included low maternal education (AOR=1.12; 95% CI: 1.09–1.16; p-value<0.001), maternal unemployment (AOR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.01–1.08; p-value=0.008), fewer than six antenatal care visits (AOR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09; p-value=0.001), high-risk parity (AOR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.10–1.18; p-value<0.001), poor household food security (AOR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.03–1.10; p-value=0.001), unimproved drinking water sources (AOR=1.06; 95% CI: 1.03–1.10; p-value<0.001), and the lowest socioeconomic quintile (AOR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.24–1.39; p-value<0.001). Male infants had lower odds of short birth length (AOR=0.73; 95% CI: 0.71–0.75; p-value<0.001), while residential location and sanitation showed no significant association. Conclusions: Short birth length is significantly associated with prematurity, maternal characteristics, low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, and limited access to health services, indicating the need for comprehensive interventions before pregnancy.]]>
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