Modernization and advances in technology have undoubtedly meant that health problems such as stunting faced by this nation have not yet ended. This condition is not only about children not experiencing good growth and development, but also has long-lasting impacts.

If a child is at risk of stunting, they may experience various health complications, such as delays in motor and language development, decreased IQ, and may even be more susceptible to developing chronic diseases in the future. What is even more worrying is that stunting will hamper the nation's generation because it will be less productive and competitive.

Therefore, understanding what stunting is, what the causes are, and how to solve it is crucial, especially in the mission to build a bright future for the nation. If you want to join the movement to combat stunting, let's find out more in the following article!

Get to know first, what is stunting?

Inhibited growth and physical development as well as brain function of toddlers caused by repeated infections and lack of nutritional intake is known as stunting. This condition usually makes children shorter than the normal height for children their age.

Apart from that, the impact of stunting can not only be seen from the physical appearance but also the development of brain function and also the future. This is because children affected by stunting are potentially susceptible to various diseases such as diarrhea, infections and even pneumonia.

Not only that, they will also have difficulty learning so that their achievements at school will be hampered. What's worse, in the long term, stunting can result in decreased productivity, failure to grow, intelligence below average, which can have an impact on the progress of a nation.

Things that Cause Stunting

There are many factors that cause stunting and they are even interrelated, therefore you need to know them in order to prevent and treat them early. Here are the reasons:

1. Limited Access to Balanced Nutritious Food
   
   Lack of consumption of nutritious and balanced food is one of the causes of children being more at risk of stunting, so why? This can of course be caused by:
   
   - Poverty
   The family's limited economic conditions mean that mothers, during pregnancy and after the child is born, are unable to fulfill adequate and nutritionally balanced food intake.
   
   - Lack of Literacy Regarding Nutrition
   It cannot be denied that knowledge about balanced nutrition influences parents when providing food to children.
   
   - Lack of Access to Sanitation and Clean Water
   Access to clean and adequate water is very crucial because this affects the environment. If sanitation is poor, the environment will become dirty and stunting will worsen.
   
   - Giving Inappropriate Food
   Often, parents give their children inappropriate food. For example, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary foods that are not appropriate for the child's age.
   
   
   
2. Recurrent Infections
   
   Repeated infections caused by bacteria, such as diarrhea, worms or pneumonia, are also causes of stunting. This happens because the absorption of nutrients is less than optimal. In this case, it could also be caused by:
   
   - Lack of Immunization
   Immunization aims to increase the child's immunity. If a child does not receive complete immunization, he is more susceptible to infection.
   
   - Unhealthy Environments
   Children who live in unhealthy environments, such as densely populated and polluted areas, are more susceptible to infections.
   
   
3. Maternal Factors
   
   Apart from the child's nutrition, the mother's intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding is also very important to pay attention to. This is because a lack of balanced nutritional intake risks causing children to become stunted, because mothers will experience:
   
   - Anemia
   Anemia or anemia in pregnant women has the potential to result in babies being born prematurely and having a low body weight. This is the risk of stunting.
   
   - Iron Deficiency
   Iron is very important for fetal brain development in pregnant women. Therefore, balanced nutritional intake in pregnant women needs to be considered.
   
   - Lack of Vitamin A Intake
   Vitamin A functions to increase the body's resistance to viral diseases. Therefore, if the mother lacks this intake it can cause stunting.
   
   - Chronic Diseases
   When a mother has a chronic disease, such as diabetes or even HIV/AIDS, there is a higher risk of giving birth to a child with stunting.
   
   
4. Birth and Postnatal Factors
   
   Several factors that occur during the birth process and after birth can also increase a child's risk of stunting, including:
   
   - Low Birth Weight
   Babies born with a body weight below the normal average are usually at greater risk of experiencing stunting.
   
   - Prematurity
   When a baby is born prematurely or prematurely, and its organ functions have not yet grown and developed optimally, the baby has the potential to experience stunting.
   
   - Lack of Postnatal Care
   Lack of proper postnatal care can increase the risk of infection in babies and worsen stunting conditions.
   
   

Solutions to Overcoming Stunting

Efforts to prevent and handle stunting must of course be carried out comprehensively and involve various parties so that they can be maximized. Here are crucial steps you can take to overcome this:

? Ensuring Children's Nutritional Intake

Who says if a child wants it, then all food can be given? Give children food with balanced nutrition that is rich in vitamins, protein and minerals. Make sure your child gets exclusive breast milk and MPASI according to his age.

? Access to Clean Water and Sanitation Made Easier

Also make sure that the environment where the child lives is really clean and healthy, don't forget that easy access to clean water also needs to be considered so that it is easier to reach.

? Complete Immunization Package

Immunization is one effort that can help protect a child's immune system from various diseases and infections that can worsen stunting conditions.

? Increasing Education

Providing public education and literacy regarding stunting is very necessary so that parents and the community immediately carry out prevention and treatment if stunting occurs.

? Strengthening the Role of Government and the Private Sector

The government and private sector as field implementers also need to work together to provide programs that can help prevent and deal with stunting, such as providing additional food, counseling and improving sanitation.

Conclusion

So, stunting is a serious problem that seems trivial even though it has a big impact on the nation's progress. Therefore, all parties, including society, government and the private sector, must work together in preventing and dealing with this problem. By increasing awareness, education and the right programs, we can create a healthy next generation Healthy, intelligent, and ready to build the nation.