1,014 Children Under Five in Buleleng Are Stunted

A total of 1,014 children under five, or 3.47% of the 29,183 under-fives in Buleleng Regency, Bali, were experiencing stunting as of October 2026. Although the figure is below the national target, the Buleleng Regency Government has cautioned parents not to become complacent about monitoring their children’s growth.

The data are based on the Family Health and Nutrition Information System (Sigizikesga). Buleleng’s stunting rate was lower than the national target of 14.2%.

Buleleng Health Office head Dr Sucipto said tackling stunting required more than providing nutritious food. Children’s growth also needed to be monitored regularly so that problems could be detected early.

“We therefore encourage parents to take their children under five to Posyandu regularly, so their weight and height can be monitored every month,” Sucipto said on Tuesday (27 October 2026).

Sucipto said Posyandu centres were among the front lines in detecting growth problems in young children. Regular measurements of weight and height were necessary to ensure that children were growing in line with their age, he said.

He also reminded parents not to wait until a child appeared thin before seeking a health check. Growth problems needed to be recognised early so that children could receive prompt treatment.

“Do not wait until a child looks thin before having their growth checked. Regular monitoring at Posyandu helps detect problems early, so children can receive appropriate care promptly,” Sucipto added.

Parents were also advised to provide complementary foods appropriate to their child’s needs until the age of two, and to give vitamin A according to the recommended schedule. They should also provide a balanced diet, particularly animal-protein sources such as eggs, fish, meat, chicken and milk.

“Ensuring an adequate intake of animal protein is very important to support children’s growth,” he added.

Sucipto then outlined several possible signs of growth problems in children. Conditions to watch for include tuberculosis (TB), intestinal worms, chronic infections, impaired nutrient absorption and anaemia.