Understanding and the Role of Health Students in Stunting Prevention in Nabire District

This study explores in depth the understanding and role of health students in stunting prevention in Nabire District, Central Papua, which has a stunting prevalence of 22.2%, exceeding the national average. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, research data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation. Data analysis used source triangulation. The results indicate that health students have a fairly comprehensive understanding of stunting. Their role in stunting prevention is manifested through community education activities, counseling for pregnant women and infants, nutrition counseling, demonstrations of nutritious food preparation, and participation in fieldwork programs. Challenges faced by students include low self-confidence, uncooperative community responses, difficulty accessing stunting data, and limited awareness of the importance of effective communication. Health students have great potential as agents of change in stunting prevention, provided they receive support, including closer collaboration between educational institutions, the government, and the community to create a stunting prevention ecosystem.