Indonesian kids are shortest in the region

The latest study by Southeast Asia Nutrition Surveys (Seanuts) has shown that Indonesian children are the shortest in height among those in four South East Asian countries.

The Indonesian Government has acknowledged the study, which was also carried out in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, that it was facing a complex problem that was difficult to overcome.

Stunted growth in children is commonly linked to malnutrition due to illnesses such as chronic diarrhoea, abnormal birth, worms, malaria and respiratory infection, noted Indonesia's Health Director (Nutritious Food Development) Minarto.

"Overcoming the problem would require time. For instance, children who suffer from diarrhoea, can become undernourished and if the situation is not addressed, it will affect their normal growth and development," he was quoted as saying, by the Media Indonesia daily on Saturday.

The study by Seanuts last year on children below five years old in Indonesia showed they suffered from stunting at a rate of 24.1 per cent (boys) and 24.3 per cent (girls).