Mother! Preventing stunting is important

Is Child Stunting Healthy?
Stunting is short stature caused by long-term malnutrition or chronic malnutrition or nutritional intake that is not optimal, for example due to ignorance of parents about proper ASI/MPASI, poverty and others. Or increased nutritional needs due to suboptimal health conditions due to disease, for example diarrhea due to poor environmental sanitation, repeated ARI due to not being immunized, and so on. Stunting has a negative impact on short and long term growth and development.
The definition of a healthy toddler according to the MCH handbook is that the weight will increase following the KMS band, then the child will increase in height, the ability to increase according to age, the child rarely gets sick, and the child is happy, active and agile. The risk factors for stunting are maternal nutrition during pregnancy, teenage pregnancy and short birth intervals, IUGR (restricted fetal growth) and preterm birth, then low quality of complementary foods, and recurrent infections and environmental factors. All of these factors were preceded by a slowdown in growth (growth/weight faltering).
In addition to risk factors, there are also complications of stunting including developmental delays, decreased immune system, decreased cognitive function (child intelligence), risk of obesity as adults, risk of cardiovascular disease as adults, and risk of osteoporosis as adults. Stunting is irreversible, cannot be treated, but can only be prevented. The way to prevent stunting in children is to give complementary foods, when breast milk alone is not enough to meet the baby's needs (the baby is around 6 months old). Then the second complementary food given must meet the child's energy, protein and micronutrient needs. Furthermore, the process of preparing and making MPASI uses safe and hygienic methods, materials and tools. And finally, MPASI is given consistently according to the child's hunger or fullness signals.

The strategy that must be implemented to prevent stunting in children includes meeting nutritional needs since pregnancy. Exclusive breastfeeding is given for 6 (six) months, MPASI is given at the latest at the age of 6 (six) months, always monitors the child's growth and development, and keeps the environment clean. It is necessary to know that balanced and complete nutrition is to provide according to needs according to age, for optimal growth and development, then increase the child's immune system and maintain optimal health.
Growth monitoring in children consists of weight, length/height and head circumference. To find out growth in children, it is necessary to carry out the correct weighing and measurements, such as measuring or weighing body weight, body length, height and head circumference. Then, do the recording and plotting correctly using graphs according to age and sex as well as the correct index. Next, make an assessment and interpretation in accordance with the definitions and provisions that apply. Finally, by following up according to the results of the interpretation and existing clinical conditions, such as observing, treating, or making referrals.