13 August 2024
Syafrijal S.Kom
Stunting is a growth and development disorder that can affect a child's quality of life in the long term. This disorder is caused by chronic malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, which includes the period from the mother's pregnancy until the child is two years old.
Children who experience stunting have a height below the standard for their age or are said to be stunted. Stunting not only affects physical growth, but also cognitive, motoric development, and long-term health.
The pregnancy phase is a critical period in preventing stunting. Adequate nutritional intake during pregnancy is very important to ensure optimal fetal development. Malnutrition in pregnant women can result in a lack of nutritional intake needed by the fetus, which can cause growth and development problems in children after birth.
Therefore, stunting screening in pregnant women is an important step in efforts to prevent stunting in the future. Realizing the importance of this, the community service team of the University of North Sumatra (USU), chaired by Dr. Siti Zahara Nasution, S.Kp., MNS. And consisting of Mr. Ikhsanuddin Ahmad Harahap, S.Kp., MNS., Dr. Evi Karota Bukit, S.Kp., MNS., and Mrs. Lufthiani, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kes, have carried out community service activities in the Ranto Baek Health Center work area, Mandailing Natal Regency on July 19-21, 2024.
This activity is in the form of stunting screening for 173 pregnant women, with the aim of early detection and preventing stunting in their children in the future. There are 1,259 toddlers in the Ranto Baek Health Center work area.
This activity began with a socialization session for pregnant women regarding the importance of monitoring nutritional status during pregnancy to prevent stunting. Continued with the implementation of screening which includes measuring height, weight, upper arm circumference, and hemoglobin examination to detect anemia which can affect the nutritional status of pregnant women, followed by nutritional counseling and distribution of additional supplements for pregnant women in need.
To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of this activity, the community service team of the University of North Sumatra (USU) also collaborated with health workers at the Ranto Baek Health Center.
This collaboration aims to ensure that the screening and nutritional intervention program for pregnant women in the area can continue, this is very possible because the Ranto Baek Health Center has health workers who are very committed to carrying out all government programs, especially those related to handling and preventing stunting, this is proven by the active participation of 90 health cadres involved in this activity and the participation of the community who care and are involved in this activity because it is driven by 2 nutrition officers who tirelessly carry out counseling to the community in Ranto Baek.
This community service activity is expected to have a big positive impact in efforts to reduce stunting rates in the region, as well as being an example for other regions to implement similar steps in improving the health of pregnant women and children.
