Local Government Programs to Tackle Stunting in the Eyes of Indonesian Villagers: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Stunting is a major threat to the quality of human resources and the nation's competitiveness. Government intervention is crucial, as the consequences of stunting can lead to substantial economic losses. Materials and methods: This study employed a descriptive-qualitative research design, focusing on 10 pairs of parents with stunted children aged 2–5 years living in a village. Snowball sampling was used to access hard-to-reach populations. The research was conducted in October 2023. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed through interactive data analysis techniques, including data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Results: The parental age ranged from 21 to 52 years, with an average age of 26.25 years. Most parents had a high school education (40%). The majority of women were housewives (60%), while most men were laborers (40%). Regarding the children's characteristics, 40% were born stunted, while 60% were born with normal growth. The children were typically the first to third born. Three key themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: local government programs related to stunting, the implementation of these programs, and the challenges faced by the community in relation to the programs. Conclusion: Six programs were identified in this study, and their implementation was recognized by the community. However, the community's understanding of these programs is largely limited to the assistance provided in the form of funds and goods for their children to overcome stunting. There is a need to strengthen socialization and dissemination of information regarding stunting-related programs.