Mapping the Dynamic Interplay of Parental Readiness and Food Security in Child Nutrition: Insights from Causal Loop Diagrams

Stunting in toddlers in Indonesia is still a major challenge that impacts the health, cognitive development, and productivity of future generations. This study aims to identify and analyze the dynamic relationship between parental readiness and food security on children's nutritional status, focusing on the results of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) in West Java using the (Causal Loop Diagram) CLD approach. The results of the FGD show that factors such as family dynamics, parental knowledge and education, attitudes and behaviors, and socio-economic conditions interact in a complex manner and form a feedback loop that affects children's nutritional status. There are also aspects of food security including affordability, utilization, accessibility, and availability of food - also play an important role in determining the quality and diversity of children's nutritional intake. The CLD analysis revealed that this involved important stakeholders in West Java, such as Pergizi (association of nutrition and food experts in Indonesia), the Indonesian Midwifery Association, the West Java Provincial Food and Animal Husbandry Security Service, and Academics from the Faculty of Medicine from Padjadjaran University, which showed the existence of a reinforcing loop and balancing loop that clarifies the relationship between factors and highlights the importance of cross-sector interaction in efforts to reduce stunting. The CLD from this FGD provides an in-depth understanding of the systemic mechanisms underlying the comprehensive problem of stunting and is expected to be a reference for formulating more effective and sustainable intervention strategies in the future.