In order to support the national program to reduce stunting rates, Universitas Indonesia (UI), through the Faculty of Public Health (FKM), designed a youth empowerment program through the revitalization of the Pelayanan Kesehatan Peduli Remaja (PKPR, or the Youth Care Health Service). This community service (pengmas) activity is in collaboration with the Kalimulya Health Center, Depok City. This aims to increase dialogic capacity and build intersubjective relationships between officers and adolescents to increase the attractiveness of PKPR for adolescents.
Head of Pengmas FKM UI, Prof. Dr. Dra. Dumilah Ayuningtyas, MARS., said that although the stunting rate in Indonesia fell from 24.4% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2022, the national target for a stunting prevalence rate of 14% in 2024 has not yet been achieved. A similar situation occurred in Depok City, West Java. Depok City has 22 sub-districts that recorded an increase in stunting prevalence.
“Depok is one of the largest cities in West Java, and it is where Universitas Indonesia is located. We feel responsible to contribute significantly to the success of this national program,” said Prof. Dumilah.
She also added that adolescents play a key role in efforts to prevent stunting. The current demographic bonus makes the adolescent age group a significant population with more than 23% of the population of Depok City in that age range.
However, the biggest challenge is the low awareness of adolescents about their health, especially related to the risk of producing a stunted generation due to unbalanced nutritional intake, anemia, and early marriage. Based on data from the Ministry of Health, only 24.6% of adolescent girls have undergone anemia screening from a target of 70%.
“Adolescent health is an important key in forming a future generation that is free from stunting. Through the revitalization of PKPR in health centers, we want to build a better relationship between health workers and adolescents, so that they are more aware and responsible for their health, and can act as agents of change,” said Prof. Dumilah.
Therefore, she added that the PKPR Program is a program that focuses on efforts to prevent stunting in adolescent girls. However, the implementation of this program in Depok City encountered several problems. Among them are the lack of area-based PKPR targets that are integrated with stunting prevention; limited human resources (HR) and infrastructure that affect the sustainability of PKPR services; minimal cross-sector support in strengthening PKPR efforts; and low participation of adolescents as program targets.
In its implementation, the activity began with the delivery of material on self-concept. Adolescents were invited to get to know themselves so that they could maximize their potential. After that, the team conducted an interactive session with adolescents. Adolescents were divided into several groups, and then given directions to build towers according to their ideals using straws or other objects. This process can encourage adolescents that ideals can be built and achieved with determination, physical, and mental readiness. Thus, to realize this, adolescents need to utilize and participate in PKPR at the Kalimulya Health Center.
In addition, to support more optimal utilization of PKPR, the FKM UI Community Service Team also provides training to health workers. “Not only talking about scientific capacity, but also in building empathetic communication. A warm approach can help teenagers feel more comfortable and accepted, thus helping to reduce the reluctance of teenagers to come to access PKPR at the health centers,” said Prof. Dumilah.
She further explained that improving empathetic communication skills is crucial in order to create a stronger relationship between officers and adolescents, which will ultimately increase adolescent trust in PKPR. Through this step, it is hoped that it can increase adolescent knowledge and awareness of their strategic role in preventing stunting from an early age.
“Through strengthening dialogue and an intersubjective relational approach, this program will not only improve the competence of health workers, but also invite adolescents to be more actively involved in stunting prevention activities,” said Prof. Dumilah.
Meanwhile, the health promotion officer of the Kalimulya Depok Health Center UPTD, Dewi, said, “The activities inspired us and the knowledge provided is very useful in preventing stunting in adolescents.” Through this community service, Prof. Dumilah hopes that the PKPR revitalization program can improve the quality of health services for adolescents at the Depok City Health Center. Through adolescent empowerment and revitalization of PKPR, adolescents will not only become beneficiaries, but also play an active role as agents of change towards a Depok City without stunting in the future.
