Optimalisasi Program Edukasi Gizi untuk Meningkatkan Kesadaran Pencegahan Stunting pada Keluarga Berisiko

Abstract

Stunting remains a public health problem that affects children’s physical growth, cognitive development, and future productivity. This community service program aimed to improve the understanding of pregnant women and parents of toddlers regarding stunting prevention through nutrition education and supplementary feeding in the form of pudding and milk in Seri Kembang I Village, Payaraman District, Ogan Ilir Regency. The target group was based on village records indicating 10 toddlers and 4 pregnant women as priority participants. The activity employed a service learning approach including identifying community needs, coordinating with the village government, PKK members, and Posyandu health workers, conducting stunting education, administering pre-test and post-test questionnaires, distributing supplementary food in the form of pudding and milk, weighing toddlers, and carrying out a descriptive evaluation of participants’ responses. The results showed active participation, positive acceptance of the supplementary food, and improved understanding of balanced nutrition, growth monitoring, and the family’s role in stunting prevention. The main obstacles were the absence of some pregnant women and the fact that not all participants were familiar with consuming pudding. This program concludes that nutrition education combined with simple supplementary feeding can serve as a promotive and preventive community-based strategy to support stunting prevention.