Household and Community-Level Factors Associated with Stunting Among Children Aged 0–59 Months in a Rural Philippine Municipality

Childhood stunting remains a major public health concern, particularly in rural communities where household vulnerabilities and community-level inequalities influence child nutrition outcomes. This study aimed to examine the household and community-level factors associated with stunting among children aged 0–59 months in a rural Philippine municipality. A quantitative descriptive-correlational cross-sectional design was employed among 220 caregivers of children aged 0–59 months identified with stunting from 18 barangays in Presentacion, Camarines Sur. Data were collected using a researcher-developed structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, family nutritional and feeding practices, access to child health services, and household sanitation and hygiene practices. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and Spearman correlation analysis were used to determine patterns and relationships among variables. Results showed that caregivers generally reported favorable nutritional practices, healthcare utilization, and sanitation behaviors. However, significant associations were identified between barangay location and family nutritional practices, employment status and nutritional practices, civil status and access to child health services, barangay location and healthcare access, and barangay location and household sanitation practices. These findings highlight that childhood stunting is influenced not only by household behaviors but also by geographic and socioeconomic conditions affecting families’ capacity to provide optimal care. Strengthening integrated, community-based interventions that combine nutrition support, healthcare accessibility, sanitation improvement, and socioeconomic assistance is essential for addressing childhood stunting in rural Philippine settings.