OBJECTIVE: Stunting still becomes a public health problem and Indonesia has the fifth highest level of stunting in the world.The insidence of  stunting increased from 35,6% to 37,2% .Stunting is caused by chronic malnutrition and the height or length for age is below -2 SD from the WHO Child Growth Standard. Growth  faltering is oftenbegins from pregnancy until the child is two years old. The fulfillment of nutrition in the first 1000 day of childhood is very important for future. One of the risk factors of stunting is an insufficient nutrient intake such as exclusive breastfeeding after birth. This research is to investigate the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and stunting in children age 12-59 months at Wangaya Hospital Denpasar City.
METHOD: The research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design using secondary data from the medical record. 64 samples was conducted from January 2018 until April 2018 and obtained by consecutive sampling method.The data was analyzed by using statistical software SPSS 23.0 with p < 0,05 being concidered significant.
RESULT: The result showed that 25 child (39,1%) were found with stunting and 37 child (57,8%) were non exclusive breastfeeding from 64 childs. Data analysis was done by using chi-square test ,the P value is 0,604 (RP=1,265;IK 95%= 0,689-2,32). Which means statistically not significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and stunting in children age 12-59 months at Wangaya Hospital Denpasar.
CONCLUSION: There is no significant relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and stunting in children age 12-59 months at Wangaya Hospital Denpasar.