Differences in Knowledge Gains Regarding Stunting Prevention among Mothers and Brides-to-Be

Abstract

Stunting remains a major public health problem in Indonesia despite a decline in national prevalence. Improving knowledge of stunting prevention among women before and during the reproductive period is an important strategy for reducing the risk of stunting. Educational interventions targeting different community groups may help strengthen community awareness and preventive behaviors. This community service program aimed to compare gains in knowledge of stunting prevention among mothers of toddlers with stunting and brides-to-be following a structured educational intervention conducted in two communities with different characteristics. A pretest and posttest educational intervention was conducted at Porong Primary Health Center, Sidoarjo Regency, involving 20 mothers of toddlers with stunting, and in Notorejo Village, Gondang District, Tulungagung Regency, involving 12 brides-to-be. Total population sampling was used. The intervention consisted of interactive lectures, group discussions, question-and-answer sessions, demonstrations, and hands-on practical training on stunting prevention and child growth prediction. Knowledge was assessed using a validated questionnaire covering five domains: the definition of stunting, causes and risk factors, prevention strategies, stunting management, and child growth prediction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, paired t tests, and independent-samples t tests, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Knowledge scores increased in both groups after the educational intervention. The mean total score increased from 16.30 to 20.60 among mothers of toddlers with stunting and from 17.83 to 22.50 among brides-to-be. Paired t tests showed significant improvements in knowledge in both Porong (p < 0.001) and Notorejo (p = 0.019). No significant difference was observed between the two groups at baseline (p = 0.839), whereas postintervention scores differed significantly (p = 0.011). However, this comparison should be interpreted cautiously because the groups represented different target populations. The structured educational intervention improved knowledge of stunting prevention among both mothers of toddlers with stunting and brides-to-be. Integrating stunting prevention education into maternal and child health services and premarital health education programs may strengthen early prevention efforts. Future community service programs should include larger and more comparable populations and evaluate the long-term sustainability of changes in knowledge and behavior.