Stunting does not always stem from food shortages but also from\neating habits and the health conditions of adolescent girls as future\nmothers.<\/p>\n
Ngawi (ANTARA) - That morning, Novi did not simply come to the\nnutrition post. The Ngawi resident arrived as a pregnant woman at risk\nof Chronic Energy Deficiency (KEK), a condition that could lead to\ngiving birth to a low birth weight baby, which is one of the early risk\nfactors for stunting.<\/p>\n
KEK in pregnant women is generally indicated by an upper arm\ncircumference of less than 23.5 centimetres. This condition serves as a\nrisk indicator because it relates to the adequacy of nutritional intake\nduring pregnancy, which affects foetal growth and development.<\/p>\n
That morning, a bowl of steaming \u201csun soup\u201d was placed in front of\nNovi. Its contents were simple yet nutrient-dense, including carrots,\npotatoes, chicken meat, chicken liver, duck eggs, patin fish, and of\ncourse, moringa leaves easily found around the home.<\/p>\n
This ready-to-eat soup was the product of volunteers at the Pos Gizi\nDapur Sehat Atasi Stunting. The soup was not the only healthy menu for\npregnant women prepared there; there were six other menus.<\/p>\n
However, the soup was Novi\u2019s favourite healthy dish at the Pos\nGizi.<\/p>\n
At the Pos Gizi, Novi shared that she was not only served ready-made\nfood but also taught how to cook healthy menus to improve her\nnutritional intake from the pregnancy period onwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a pregnant woman, I am helped; the demonstrated cooking can be\npractised by me,\u201d said Novi.<\/p>\n
That was a glimpse of Novi\u2019s story, who is now struggling to overcome\nthe risk of stunting in the baby she will give birth to.<\/p>\n
Addressing from the Source<\/p>\n
The issue of stunting is not just for those who are pregnant but\nstarts from adolescence.<\/p>\n
Stunting does not always originate from food limitations but also\nfrom eating habits and the health conditions of adolescent girls as\nprospective mothers.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, adolescent girls are not aware of the stunting and KEK\nrisks.<\/p>\n
For this reason, according to PASTI WVI Programme Manager Hotmianida\nPanjaitan, special education approaches are needed for adolescent girls.\nThis is particularly to raise awareness of the importance of nutritional\nintake for adolescent girls to avoid the risk of giving birth to stunted\nbabies in the future.<\/p>\n
PASTI WVI is an initiative to accelerate stunting reduction through\ncommunity empowerment.<\/p>\n
Hotmianida Panjaitan said one easy approach for adolescent girls\nstarts with introducing anaemia (iron deficiency) and its impact on\nmaternal and foetal health.<\/p>\n
Anaemia can result in inadequate energy and nutrient intake for\npregnant women, which affects foetal growth and development. If this\ndisruption continues, it will trigger stunting in children later on.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, awareness of anaemia among adolescents in Ngawi is still\nvery low, and nutritional intake or iron supplement tablets are not very\npopular. Research by Generasi Berencana (GenRe) in Ngawi Regency shows\nthat iron supplement consumption among adolescents remains low.<\/p>\n
Efforts to educate on the importance of addressing anaemia in\nadolescents require more creative approaches so that health messages can\nbe well received.<\/p>\n
Hotmianida said creative approaches like competitions are one way to\nget adolescents to participate and get involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cGathering adolescents is a bit difficult. If it\u2019s not interesting,\nthey don\u2019t want to come. That\u2019s why we address it by holding activities\nlike competitions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Through this approach, adolescents are not just recipients of\ninformation but are encouraged to pass on the message to their peers,\nincluding involving adolescent boys in stunting prevention efforts.<\/p>\n
From the Kitchen to the Dining Table<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/combating-stunting-in-ngawi-1777596791", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }