Universitas Indonesia (UI) through the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health (FKM) launched a nutrition education program in the form of an interactive online game called “Nutrition Impact”. This online game was first played in community service activities (pengmas) held in Kalanganyar District, Lebak Regency, Banten, Monday (27/11). This game was played by students at SMK 1 Kalanganyar to enrich their knowledge about the causes and dangers of stunting.
The Head of the Service Team, Nurul Dina Rahmawati, S.Gz., M.Sc., said that Lebak Regency was chosen as the service area because of its high prevalence rate of stunting. According to the Department of Population Control, Family Planning, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection of Lebak Regency, the prevalence rate of stunting in Lebak in 2023 is 3,736 cases. This number has decreased compared to the previous year which reached 4,618 cases. However, this figure (26% of the population) is still much higher than the national prevalence average, which is 21% in 2022, from the national target of 14% in 2024.
Education about stunting is considered important by Nurul because this disease has an impact across generations. Anemia suffered by teenagers, for example, puts them at risk of becoming pregnant women with anemia. “If a pregnant woman experiences anemia, the growth and development of the fetus in the womb will not be optimal, resulting in the potential for giving birth to a stunted child. For this reason, through “Nutrition Impact”, we are trying to provide education in order to increase teenagers’ awareness and compliance with health and the consumption of good nutrition,” said Nurul.
The “Nutrition Impact” game is equipped with educational modules regarding the Definition of Adolescence, Physical and Psychological Changes in Adolescents, and Healthy Lifestyles. By playing this game, teenagers automatically get comprehensive information about nutrition and health in a fun way. This game also provides knowledge regarding the symptoms, causes, impacts and treatment of anemia.
On that occasion, several students at SMK 1 Kalanganyar said that they did not regularly consume Blood Supplement Tablets (TTD) because the smell and taste were unpleasant, and they had a nauseating effect. To overcome this, the UI Service Team provides tips for female students to consume TTD comfortably. They can consume TTD with fresh fruit, or sweet foods and drinks. Apart from that, teenagers should avoid consuming tea, coffee and milk when consuming TTD.
The Head of Kalanganyar District, Bayu Hadiyana, M.Si., and the Principal of SMKN 1 Kalanganyar, Ratna Ningsih, M.Pd., welcomed the implementation of community service activities initiated by FKM UI. Bayu said, “Adolescent girls are future mothers who will determine the quality of the next generation, hence why they must be healthy so that their children will be free from stunting.”
To ensure the sustainability of these community service activities, the educational program is carried out in a hybrid manner by utilizing WhatsApp groups for one month as a forum for discussion. The nutrition education program for teenagers marks a significant step for UI in its efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting and improve the health and productivity of teenagers in Kalanganyar District, Lebak, Banten. The UI Service Team hopes that this community service activity can be an example for efforts to overcome the issue of stunting in other regions.
Author: FKM Public Relations | Editor: Sasa
