THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMMUNICATION PATTERN OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE TEAMS ON STUNTING PREVENTION BEHAVIOR IN FAMILIES WITH TODDLERS AND INFANTS IN WANGI-WANGI DISTRICT, WAKATOBI REGENCY

The increase in the prevalence of stunting in Wakatobi Regency from 2021 to 2022 has a highly detrimental impact both on health and economic productivity. To prevent this condition, the Family Assistance Team plays a leading role in various preventive efforts through support activities that include counseling, facilitating referral services, and facilitating the reception of social assistance programs. This study aims to determine the extent of the influence of the communication patterns of the Family Assistance Team on stunting prevention behavior. Using a quantitative approach, this study was conducted in Wangi-Wangi District with a population of 981 families with infants and toddlers, spread across 20 villages/sub-districts. By applying proportional random sampling, a total of 100 respondents were obtained, with 5 samples selected from each village/sub-district. The results show a significant impact of the Family Assistance Team's communication patterns on stunting prevention behavior. The data analysis concludes that the more intense the communication patterns of the Family Assistance Team, the more it improves stunting prevention behavior among families with infants and toddlers in Wangi-Wangi District. The implication of this research is the need to increase the intensity of communication between the Family Assistance Team and families with infants and toddlers.