Balanced Nutrition Education for Stunting Prevention Among Mothers of Toddlers in Kandang Village, Darul Imarah

Abstract

Stunting remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia, largely due to prolonged inadequate nutrition and limited maternal knowledge of balanced nutrition. This community service activity aimed to improve mothers' knowledge of the importance of balanced nutrition as a strategy for stunting prevention. The program was held on March 5, 2026, in Kandang Village, Darul Imarah District, Aceh Besar, and involved 20 mothers of toddlers. An interactive lecture method was applied, combined with pre-test and post-test assessments to measure participants’ knowledge before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant increase in participants’ knowledge, with the average score rising from 53.7% in the pre-test to 98.0% in the post-test, indicating a 44.3% improvement. This finding demonstrates that interactive lectures are effective at enhancing understanding of balanced nutrition concepts, including dietary diversity, appropriate portion sizes, and the importance of animal protein for child growth. The discussion highlights that increased maternal knowledge can positively influence attitudes and practices related to child feeding and nutrition. In conclusion, the program successfully improved mothers’ knowledge and has the potential to contribute to behavioural changes that fulfil family nutritional needs. Continuous, broader implementation of similar educational interventions is recommended to support stunting-reduction efforts at the community level.