Understanding the role of village fund and administrative capacity in stunting reduction: Empirical evidence from Indonesia

Factors Affecting Village Apparatus, Integrated Service Post and Early Childhood Education in Stunting Prevention

Background

The study aimed to identify the achievement of stunting prevention based on the contribution of the Village Apparatus, Integrated Health Services Post and Early Childhood Education. Moreover, it determined the effect of the personnel factors of each agency on the achievement of stunting prevention.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 respondents in Surakarta residences covering Klaten, Boyolali, Karanganyar, Surakarta, Sukoharjo, and Sragen districts from August to October 2021. The researcher conducted a line plot to describe the score of stunting prevention efforts through SINAR APD in planning, funding, implementation, and monitoring. Linear regression and One Way Anova were analyzed using SPSS to determine the effect of the personnel factors.

Results

Personnel factors had a significant role in the achievement of funding for Stunting Prevention. The data of stunting showed knowledge (F=3.3; P<0.05), attitudes towards authoritative parenting (F=5.6; P<0.05), and attitudes towards permissive parenting (F=6.1; P<0.05).

Conclusions

The main problem was the lack of achievement in the funding aspect. The researcher recommended further research to increase knowledge on stunting for village apparatus, Integrated Health Services Post and Early Childhood Education. Understanding good parenting patterns can change mindsets and attitudes to avoid applying parenting methods that are too authoritarian or permissive.

Effect of a Short Course on Improving the Cadres' Knowledge in the Context of Reducing Stunting through Home Visits in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Background: Stunting is primarily a public health concern in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). The involvement of Integrated Health Service Post (Indonesian: Posyandu) cadres is among the strategies to combat stunting in Indonesia. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of a short course on cadres' knowledge. Method: A single group pre-test post-test design was conducted in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from March to May 2022. Thirty cadres were selected based on the following criteria: willingness to participate, the number of stunted children in their Posyandu, able to read and write, and full attendance at the short course. The knowledge scores were measured by a questionnaire using true and false answers after a short course (post-test 1) and 4 weeks later (post-test 2). We apply STATA 16 to calculate the Mean Difference (MD) using a t-test and a Generalized Estimated Equation (GEE). Furthermore, the adequacy of the short course was evaluated with in-depth interviews. Result: GEE analysis showed that after controlling for age, education, occupation, and years of experience, the short course improved cadres' knowledge significantly on post-tests 1 and 2, i.e., knowledge regarding Children Growth Monitoring (CGM) (Beta = 6.07, 95%CI: 5.10-7.03 and Beta = 8.57, 95%CI: 7.60-9.53, respectively), Children Development Monitoring (CDM) (Beta = 6.70, 95%CI: 5.75-7.65 and Beta = 9.27, 95%CI: 8.31-10.22, respectively), and Infant Young Children Feeding (IYCF) (Beta = 5.83, 95%CI: 4.44-7.23 and Beta = 11.7, 95%CI: 10.31-13.09, respectively). Furthermore, the short course increased their self-efficacy, confidence, and ability to assist stunted children through home visits. Conclusion: The short courses consistently and significantly boosted cadres' knowledge of CGM, CDM, and IYCF, and appropriately facilitated cadres in visits to the homes of stunted children's home.