Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906630620251112936940ENResearch Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Department of Environmental Health, Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health Padang, Indonesia,Research Center for Pre-Clinical and Clinical Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia, 4Faculty of Medicine, Indonesian Christian University, Jakarta, IndonesiaResearch Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Faculty of Medicine, Indonesian Christian University, Jakarta, IndonesiaResearch Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Research Center for Pre-Clinical and Clinical Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia, 4Faculty of Medicine, Indonesian Christian University, Jakarta, IndonesiaResearch Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,Research Center for Public Health and Nutrition, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia,2025111220251112<p class="Default"><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic malnutrition can cause children to be underweight for their age, leading to stunting. This study aimed to examine the association between infectious diseases and stunting in toddlers. <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>A cross‑sectional study was conducted across Indonesia in 2021, involving 90,897 toddlers. Data were obtained through maternal interviews and anthropometric measurements. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. <strong>Results: </strong>Results showed that toddler age, gender, place of residence, and parental education and occupation were significantly associated with stunting, <em>p </em>&lt; 0.001 (OR = 1.1–3.6). Infectious diseases, including Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs), diarrhea, pneumonia, and worm infections, were also significantly associated with stunting, <em>p </em>&lt; 0.05 (OR = 1.1–1.5). <strong>Conclusions: </strong>Infectious diseases, including ARIs, diarrhea, pneumonia, and worm infections, are significantly associated with stunting. These findings highlight the importance of preventing and managing infections to reduce stunting in Indonesian toddlers.</p><p> </p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/2328http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/2328/70707919