Literature Review: The Influence of Grandmother Parenting Culture on Stunting Toddler Feeding Practices

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a global health problem that is significantly influenced by sociocultural factors at the household level. In extended family structures such as in Indonesia, grandmothers have a great influence that often determines the success or obstacles in the practice of feeding toddlers.

Purpose: This article aims to analyze and synthesize the literature on the influence of parenting culture by grandmothers on feeding practices of toddlers who are at risk of causing stunting.

Methods: The literature review was conducted by following the PRISMA flow guide. Article searches using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases in the 2020–2025 time frame. A total of 9 original research articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed narratively.

Results: The thematic analysis identified three main points: 1) Grandmothers act as key decision makers in the family hierarchy; 2) The strong traditional nutrition myth encourages the practice of pre-lactal feeding and early MP-breastfeeding before the age of six months; 3) There is a fatalistic perception that considers stunting as a genetic/hereditary factor as a self-defense mechanism against the stigma of malnutrition.

Conclusions: Grandparents' parenting culture is a crucial sociocultural determinant in the incidence of stunting. Stunting prevention interventions need to shift from an education model centered only on mothers to a family approach that actively involves grandmothers as the main target of culturally sensitive nutrition education.