Unpad Supports Jelegong Mothers: Exclusive Breastfeeding and Food Processing Prevent Stunting in Toddlers

Bandung, August 2024 – The Faculty of Nursing, Padjadjaran University, held a community service activity in Jelegong Village, Rancaekek District, focusing on supporting mothers with toddlers in fulfilling exclusive breastfeeding and modifying food processing practices. This activity was part of the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) and involved lecturers, supervisors, and students from across study programs. The goal was to improve knowledge and practices related to exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding to prevent toddlers from becoming stunted.

During the preparation phase, the implementation team conducted an initial survey in several neighborhood units (RW) in Jelegong Village to determine mothers’ knowledge regarding exclusive breastfeeding, stunting, and complementary food processing practices. A socialization was then held at the Jelegong Village Office Sports Hall on March 26, 2024, attended by approximately 30 mothers with toddlers. The material covered stunting, the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, the principles of complementary feeding (MPASI), and a cooking demonstration of simple, nutritious recipes to complement breastfeeding.

The impact of the activity was demonstrated through a comparison of pre-test and post-test results. Seventy-two percent of participants experienced an improvement in their scores after participating in the training, while 28% showed no improvement. Increased knowledge included the definition of stunting, risk factors, and the definition of exclusive breastfeeding according to WHO standards. Several items still require special attention, such as food processing and recipes to support breastfeeding.

The organizers concluded that this activity was successful in increasing the capacity of mothers in Jelegong Village in understanding exclusive breastfeeding and preparing complementary foods. Follow-up recommendations include periodic evaluations by Posyandu (Integrated Service Post) cadres, continued use of training booklets, and the development of economical, nutritious recipes to make them more accessible to mothers with limited resources.