The Identification of Stunting Risk Factors among Children Under Five in Bila Cenge Village, Southwest Sumba

Abstract

Southwest Sumba is one of the districts in East Nusa Tenggara Province with a high prevalence of stunting among children under five. In 2023, the district recorded the highest stunting rate in the province, at 32%. Stunting not only impairs physical growthin children but also affects their cognitive development and future productivity. The objective of this community project is to help identify the root causes and risk factors of stunting in Bila Cenge Village. The team conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and made home visits to eight children under five, including four healthy children and four stunted children. The Positive Deviance approach was used during home visits to identify role model cases. From the FGD, the team identified several risk factors for stunting, including low coverage of exclusive breastfeeding, lack of maternal involvement in child care, absence of mothers during mealtimes, poor sanitation, low coverage of antenatal care visits, and issues related to culture and poverty. The teamalso identified several Positive Deviance cases in which mothers of healthy children demonstrated good behaviors that supported their children's nutrition. Health education is urgently needed in this village to reduce stunting among children, and PositiveDeviance cases can serve as role models to promote healthy practices among other mothers.