The prevalence of stunting in Belitung Regency has shown a significant increase, reaching 20.8% based on data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI). In response to this condition, Universitas Indonesia (UI), through the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), held a nutrition education activity focused on integrated health post cadres and adolescent girls in Sijuk District, Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands Province.
This initiative involves the development of various educational materials, such as booklets, leaflets, and interactive games to help disseminate important information about preventing stunting. “One of the causes of stunting in Belitung Regency is thought to come from inappropriate parenting and eating patterns. The First 1000 Days of Life (1000 HPK) is a very crucial period for preventing stunting. In addition, adolescents as prospective mothers also need to prepare their nutritional status so that they are ready to face pregnancy,” said Dr. Ir. Diah M. Utari, Head of the Community Service Team (Pengmas) FKM UI.
In the activity that took place on Monday, August 26, cadres from 19 integrated health posts in Sijuk District and young women from SMAN 1 Sijuk received nutritional education materials. The materials presented to the integrated health post cadres included nutrition for pregnant women and toddlers, how to read weighing results on the Healthy Menu Card (KMS), and healthy food menus. Meanwhile, young women were given education on the symptoms, impacts, and prevention of anemia and the relationship between anemia and stunting.
One of the interactive activities that participants participated in was creating a simulation of “Isi Piringku,” a balanced nutrition guideline compiled by the Ministry of Health, where participants were asked to draw or stick food ingredients according to food categories. “The participants demonstrated good skills in compiling a balanced nutrition menu. Hopefully, this knowledge can be disseminated to pregnant women and mothers of toddlers to reduce stunting rates,” said Dr. Diah.
Several young women who participated in this activity also admitted that their diet did not fully follow the balanced nutrition guidelines, and many did not know the relationship between anemia and stunting.
This activity also received appreciation from the Nutrition Program Manager of the Belitung Regency Health Office, Rohami. “Integrated health post cadres have an important role as disseminators of nutritional information in the community, especially for pregnant women and mothers of toddlers. Education for integrated health post cadres is a very appropriate step to increase public knowledge,” said Rohami.
Before and after the education, the participants underwent a pre-test and post-test to measure the increase in knowledge. As a result, the knowledge score of young women increased by 15%, while for integrated health post cadres it increased by 10%, accompanied by increased skills in reading KMS and preparing a balanced nutritional menu.
The principal of SMAN 1 Sijuk, Eny Susilowati, S.Pd., also expressed appreciation for this activity. “We welcome this activity because it is in line with our school’s routine program in providing education on anemia and consumption of iron tablets (TTD). We hope that activities like this can be continued next year,” said Eny.
