IPB University Students Educate Stunting Prevention at KUA, Marriage Counsellors: We Are Very Helped

Stunting is a nutritional problem that needs more attention, due to its high prevalence and close relationship with development. Not only for pregnant women, nursing mothers and mothers of toddlers, the target of education related to stunting needs to be expanded, one of which is prospective brides.

Therefore, the IPB University Innovation Thematic Real Work Lecture (KKNT) team in Kendayakan Village, Tegal, Central Java collaborated with the Warureja Religious Affairs Office (KUA) to provide nutrition education to prospective brides and marriage counsellors.

According to Aurellia Farrelyn Putri, a student representative of IPB University, nutrition education for brides-to-be is important so that preparation for pregnancy can be optimal. 

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the average age of first marriage for young people in Indonesia will be 21.23 years in 2023. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Health Survey (IHS) noted that the correct knowledge about stunting children in the age range of 20-24 years was only 69.8 per cent. 

“This is a striking blow to Indonesia. Prospective parents who will conceive and provide care for the nation’s next generation do not know the basics of information about nutrition and parenting issues,” she said.

The bridal counsellors and brides-to-be were very enthusiastic in participating in the nutrition education activities. They were given the opportunity to know their respective nutritional status through body mass index (BMI). 

“I just got this nutrition education material, a lot of interesting new knowledge. One of them is the condition of anaemia which can increase the risk of maternal death due to bleeding during childbirth and its relationship with stunting,” said Iqotul, one of the brides-to-be.

Not only for brides-to-be, KKNT Inovasi students also provide education to marriage counsellors at KUA Warureja through leaflets and books. It is hoped that this nutrition education programme can be continued by marriage counselors.

“The material provided is about pre-pregnancy nutritional status, pre-pregnancy nutritional intake, the First 1,000 Days of Life (HPK), and efforts to prevent stunting. With this activity, it is hoped that brides-to-be can improve their understanding of pregnancy preparation and nutrition issues,” said Aurellia. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)