Aims: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of community-based educational interventions in preventing stunting, with a focus on their planning, execution, and effects on growth outcomes and associated behaviors in low- and middle-income countries. Information & Methods: This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 criteria, by a comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and other relevant databases until December 2024. Studies that focused on community-based education for stunting prevention were considered experimental, including randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental research. Changes in height-for-age z-scores were the primary outcome measured, while improvements in maternal and child nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices served as secondary objectives. The ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools were utilized to assess the risk of bias. Findings: A total of 17 studies from various low- and middle-income countries (Indonesia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, and Peru) were included. These studies employed a range of educational strategies, such as home visits, group workshops, mobile health applications, and digital platforms. The duration of interventions varied from two weeks to two years, with many incorporating behavior change communication techniques, practical demonstrations, and culturally tailored content. Significant improvements were observed in height-for-age z-scores, dietary diversity, exclusive breastfeeding, and complementary feeding practices. Programs that were culturally adapted, sustained over longer periods, and integrated multiple delivery methods proved to be the most effective. However, shorter interventions demonstrated limited long-term impact. Conclusion: Community-based educational interventions effectively reduce stunting and improve nutrition-related behaviors in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: One of the problems currently faced by Indonesia is nutritional problems in the form of stunting. Stunting is a disruption in the growth and development of children due to chronic malnutrition and recurrent infections, characterized by their length or height being below the standard.  Methods: This descriptive research aimed to describe the condition of stunting in Tegal City and the efforts of the Tegal City government in contributing to the reduction of the stunting rate.  Results: This activity has shown good results, this can be seen from the reduction in the stunting rate in Tegal City from 9.94% in 2022 to 8.21% in 2023. The program to reduce stunting rates in Tegal City was established through the formation of the stunting reduction acceleration team (SRAT). Some of the activities carried out by SRAT include sensitive services linked to poverty management program activities, such as providing integrated healthy livable houses, interventions in the use of yard land, expanding family planning acceptors, refining social assistance recipients, and providing access to drinking water and sanitation management. Specific services are carried out by strengthening specific interventions on a provincial scale, enhancing communication and behavior change by strengthening communication and behavior change and planning and monitoring the evaluation of regional apparatus organizations’ program integration. Collaboration with potential partners is also key in accelerating stunting reduction, along with ongoing monitoring and evaluation of performance. This activity has shown positive outcomes, as evidenced by the reduction in the stunting rate in Tegal City from 9.94% in 2022 to 8.21% in 2023. Conclusion: The prevalence of stunted children in Tegal City has decreased. Effective leadership, a strong civil society, and targeting vulnerable communities during the implementation of specific and sensitive nutrition interventions are the main factors that support the achievement of these targets.

Background: The prevalence of growth disorders among school-aged children in Indonesia is high (30. 7%). Pesticides have been massively used in Indonesian agricultural areas. Objective: To determine if exposure to pesticides is associated with stunting among children in agricultural areas. Methods: This case-control study included 160 children (48 cases and 112 controls) aged 8– 12 years. Exposure to pesticides was measured based on the history of the exposure since perinatal period, infancy, and childhood of the participants. Stunting was determined as a height for age z-score (HAZ) < ‑ 2 SD. Other variables measured were levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), hemoglobin, zinc, albumin, nutrient adequacy level (energy and protein), and history of infection, low-birth weight (LBW), and mother's height. Results: There were no significant difference between the cases and controls in terms of in the baseline characteristics, except for the median IGF-1 level; it was significantly (p<0. 001) lower in the cases (66. 73 ng/mL) than the controls (112. 57 ng/mL). High level of pesticide exposure (p=0. 029) and low IGF-1 levels (p<0. 001) were significantly associated with stunting. After adjusting for confounding variables, these variables were found to be independent risk factors for stunting in children (aOR 3. 90, 95% CI 1. 15 to 13. 26; and aOR 8. 35, 95% CI 3. 65 to 19. 14, respectively). Conclusion: Pesticide exposure could be a risk factor for the occurrence of growth disorders in children living in agricultural areas. Necessary actions should be taken to protect children living in agricultural areas from exposure to pesticides.

Aims: Because low levels of maternal knowledge can cause stunting, developing an education system and web-based stunting anticipation system is needed to increase mothers' ability to improve stunting prevention efforts. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Education System and Stunting Anticipation on mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in preventing stunting in Pekanbaru City. Materials & Methods: This research adopted a quantitative analytic approach using a quasi-experimental pre-and post-test design with controls. The study was conducted in the working area of Rejosari Health Center for the intervention group and Sapta Taruna Health Center for the control group from April to July 2022. There were 148 mothers in each group. The intervention group received exposure to the Education System and Anticipation of Stunting. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were used to analyze data. Findings: Before the intervention, the mean ranks of knowledge, attitude, and practice were 27. 47, 51. 39, and 30. 88, respectively. After the intervention, the mean ranks of knowledge, attitude, and practice reached 71. 50, 61. 46, and 35. 54, respectively. The increase in scores in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0. 001). Conclusion: Implementing the Stunting Education and Anticipation System effectively increases mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices in stunting prevention.