Stunting prevention must occur within the first thousand days, not after

Preventing stunting and improving child nutrition are two distinct matters. Many pregnant women frequently consume instant noodles, fast food, or street snacks. While these choices may satisfy hunger, from the perspective of a developing foetus forming brain and bone structures, such diets can lead to permanent nutritional deficiencies.

The term ‘stunting’ gained prominence between 2018 and 2019, during the government’s intensive efforts to combat widespread malnutrition. At that time, the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) indicated that the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia had reached 30.8 per cent.

It is crucial to understand that stunting is not simply about a child being thin or too short for their age. Stunting is a growth failure resulting from chronic malnutrition that occurs from the womb until the age of two.

The impact of chronic nutritional deficiency extends beyond physical height to include brain development, cognitive function, and a child’s learning capacity throughout their entire life. Children who experience stunting tend to face difficulties in school, are more prone to illness, and possess more limited productivity potential as adults compared to children who grow with adequate nutrition. Therefore, the issue is not solely about a child’s height, but about their future quality of life.