Family-Based and Integrated Health Post (Posyandu) Stunting Prevention Strategies Through Education and Empowerment in Bangun Jaya Village, Sukamara Regency

Abstract

Stunting continues to pose challenges in improving child health outcomes, particularly in relation to growth and developmental potential. Addressing this issue requires not only clinical efforts but also strengthening the role of families and community-based health workers. This study aimed to explore the impact of a participatory educational activity designed to improve knowledge on stunting prevention among community members in Bangun Jaya Village, Sukamara Regency. The activity involved 40 participants, including pregnant women, mothers of young children, and Posyandu cadres. A pretest–posttest approach was applied to assess changes in knowledge following the intervention. Educational sessions were delivered through visual materials and facilitated discussions to encourage engagement and reflection based on participants’ daily experiences. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to examine differences in knowledge scores before and after the intervention. The findings indicated a clear improvement in participants’ understanding, reflected by an increase in mean scores from 6.9 prior to the activity to 10.7 afterward, with statistically significant results (p < 0.001. Sustained efforts that involve both families and local health cadres are essential to support long-term behavioral changes and community participation.Keywords: stunting prevention, family empowerment, Posyandu, health education