Preventing Stunting Early, IPB University Lecturer Socializes the Importance of Nutrition for Teenagers

The Dosen Pulang Kampung (Dospulkam) is one of the programs of the Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA) IPB University. This community service program has been attended by lecturers from various faculties. One of them is Resa Ana Dina SKM, MEpid, IPB University lecturer from the Department of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema).

With an educational background in public health, the title of the activity she carried was ‘Gapai Sehati Rematri: Anti Early Marriage Movement for Healthy and Nutritious Teenage Girls’. This activity was held at the Senior High School (SMA) Negeri 1 Pandeglang, recently.

Participants consisting of students and teachers of SMA Negeri 1 Pandeglang received training materials on balanced nutrition in adolescents. Not without any reason, this topic was raised based on data on the prevalence of stunting in the Pandeglang area.

According to data from the Office of Population Control, Family Planning, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (DP2KBP3A), there are at least 69,902 families in Pandeglang who are at risk of stunting. On the other hand, data from the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) in 2022 states that the prevalence of stunting in Pandeglang is still high, reaching 29.4 percent.

Resa explained that stunting is a nutritional problem whose cycle continues if not handled properly. “Prevention of stunting must be done as early as possible, including during adolescence,” she said.

She continued, one of the nutritional problems in adolescents is anemia which is prone to occur among adolescent girls. “As future mothers, young women must pay attention to their nutritional status. If young women experience malnutrition, they are likely to give birth to stunted children,” she concluded.

One of the participants, Faujiatun, said that the material presented in this activity was very useful and added insight. “Through this event I can understand more deeply about nutrition in adolescents,” she said.

With a Training of Trainer (ToT) concept, participants are positioned as trainers who will campaign for the importance of nutrition for adolescents. Participants are assigned to socialize the material they get to their friends. (*/Nr/Rz) (IAAS/Hap)