<![CDATA[Stunting remains prevalent in Indonesian coastal communities despite the abundance of fish. This study examined animal-source food consumption and factors associated with stunting in children aged 6–23 months in coastal Kotawaringin Barat, Indonesia. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory study was conducted from March to May 2025, involving 55 mother–child dyads. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometry, and dietary intake was evaluated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher’s Exact Test, and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The prevalence of stunting was 20.0%, although 98.2% of the children met the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for protein. The median protein intake was lower among stunted than non-stunted children (22.60 vs. 29.35 g/day; p < 0.001). Higher protein intake was associated with lower odds of stunting (OR = 0.268; 95% CI: 0.095–0.754). Fish, eggs, and milk were the main animal-source foods consumed, whereas iron-rich foods were rarely consumed. Low maternal nutritional literacy, ultra-processed food consumption, unstable fishing income, and poor sanitation emerged as major barriers. In conclusion, protein adequacy alone may not ensure optimal linear growth among children in coastal communities. Improving dietary quality, caregiver nutritional literacy, and sanitation conditions may be important components of stunting reduction strategies in these settings.]]>
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