<![CDATA[Pendahuluan: Kekurangan gizi merupakan masalah kesehatan utama di negara yang sedang berkembang, dan melatarbelakangi lebih dari 50% kematian balita. Pemberian ASI paling sedikit 6 bulan direkomendasikan untuk menurunkan kesakitan dan kematian anak akibat gangguan gizi. Metode: Desain penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian non eksperimental dengan desain penelitian cross sectional. jumlah sampel pada menelitian ini sebanyak 83 responden dengan Teknik purposive sampling. Hasil: uji analitik menggunakan uji korelasi Rank Spearman didapatkan nilai signifikan p = 0,002 (p < 0,05) dan r = -0,333, sehingga dapat disimpulkan ada hubungan antara riwayat pemberian ASI eksklusif dengan status gizi balita usia 7-24 bulan. Diskusi: Pemberian ASI secara eksklusif sampai bayi berumur 6 bulan sangat penting untuk menunjang status gizi balita sehingga pertumbuhan dan perkembangannya menjadi optimal. Kata Kunci: ASI eksklusif, gizi, balita ABSTARCT Introduction: Malnutrition is a major health problem in developing countries, and underlies more than 50% of under-five mortality. Breast feeding of at least 6 months is recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality of children due to nutritional disorders. Method: This research design using non experimental research method with cross sectional research design. the number of samples in this research as many as 83 respondents with purposive sampling technique. Result: analytic test using Rank Spearman correlation test got significant value p = 0,002 (p <0,05) and r = -0,333, so it can be concluded there is correlation between history of exclusive breastfeeding with nutritional status of children aged 7-24 months. Discussion: Breastfeeding exclusively until 6 months old baby is very important to support the nutritional status of toddlers so that growth and development become optimal. Keywords: Exclusive breastfeeding, nutrition, toddlers]]>
