30 September 2025

SEAMEO RECFON researcher Eflita Meiyetriani, SKM, MKM, has officially received her Doctorate in Public Health from the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Indonesia (FKM UI) with the highest distinction, Summa Cum Laude, and a GPA of 3.95, after successfully defending her dissertation in a hybrid doctoral promotion session held at the FKM UI Building in Depok and via Zoom on 30 September 2025.

The session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Besral, SKM, M.Sc., featured Eflita’s presentation of her dissertation titled “The Impact of the ‘Four Too’ Births on Children’s Linear Growth: An Analysis of Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) Data from 2000, 2007, and 2014.” Her study highlights the risks of stunting associated with the “Four Too” phenomenon—too young, too old, too close birth spacing, and too many children. The analysis revealed that short birth intervals (less than 24 months) consistently increased the risk of stunting by nearly twofold, while maternal age and the number of children showed no significant effect.

 

The dissertation also found that the highest prevalence of stunting occurred among children under five years old (39%) and decreased to 25% during adolescence. Socioeconomic conditions, maternal education, and parental height were also identified as contributing factors to stunting risk.

Two experts from SEAMEO RECFON, Dr. Dwi Nastiti Iswarawanti, M.Sc. and Helda Khusun, S.Tp, M.Sc., Ph.D., served as members of the examination committee. They emphasized the importance of Eflita’s findings in strengthening Indonesia’s national stunting reduction policies and expanding preventive interventions to include adolescents as part of a long-term strategy.

 

In his remarks, Prof. dr. Budi Utomo, MPH., Ph.D., as the dissertation supervisor, praised Eflita’s dedication and perseverance in completing a study that provides significant contributions to stunting prevention efforts in Indonesia. The achievement of Dr. Eflita Meiyetriani is a source of pride for SEAMEO RECFON, which continues to play a vital role in advancing research in nutrition and public health, as well as nurturing outstanding researchers who contribute to human development in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.