<![CDATA[Abstrak Stunting merupakan permasalahan kesehatan serius yang berdampak jangka panjang terhadap pertumbuhan dan perkembangan anak. Salah satu faktor langsung yang berkontribusi terhadap kejadian stunting adalah infeksi saluran pernapasan akut (ISPA), terutama pada balita. Kurangnya pengetahuan ibu mengenai pencegahan dan penatalaksanaan ISPA dapat meningkatkan risiko infeksi berulang yang berdampak pada status gizi anak. Di wilayah kerja Puskesmas Martapura 1, prevalensi stunting mengalami peningkatan yang signifikan, sementara masih ditemukan rendahnya keterlibatan ibu dalam upaya pencegahan ISPA pada balita. Berdasarkan hasil observasi awal, banyak ibu belum memahami gejala dini ISPA dan langkah-langkah penanganan awal di rumah. Oleh karena itu, kegiatan pengabdian ini dilakukan untuk memberdayakan ibu melalui edukasi dan pendampingan agar mampu mencegah ISPA sebagai upaya menurunkan risiko stunting. Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan ibu balita tentang ISPA sebagai salah satu upaya mencegah stunting. Metode pelaksanaan yang digunakan adalah edukasi kesehatan secara interaktif dengan pendekatan door-to-door kepada 16 ibu balita selama bulan Desember 2024. Materi edukasi mencakup pengertian, penyebab, gejala, pencegahan, dan penatalaksanaan ISPA, serta hubungannya dengan stunting. Evaluasi dilakukan melalui pre test dan post test yang dilakukan pada ibu balita. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan adanya peningkatan signifikan dalam pengetahuan ibu setelah intervensi. Sebelum diberikan edukasi rerata pengetahuan ibu tentang ISPA 49,48%, setelah diberikan edukasi rerata pengetahuan ibu meningkat menjadi 87,6%. Edukasi kesehatan interaktif efektif dalam meningkatkan pengetahuan ibu tentang ISPA sebagai bagian dari upaya pencegahan stunting pada balita. Kata kunci: edukasi kesehatan; infeksi saluran pernapasan akut; ibu balita; pencegahan; stunting. Abstract Stunting is a serious public health problem with long-term impacts on children's growth and development. One of the direct contributing factors to stunting is acute respiratory infection (ARI), particularly in children under five. Mothers' lack of knowledge regarding ARI prevention and management can increase the risk of recurrent infections, which negatively affects children's nutritional status. In the working area of Martapura 1 Public Health Center, the prevalence of stunting has significantly increased, while maternal involvement in ARI prevention efforts remains low. Initial observations revealed that many mothers do not understand the early symptoms of ARI or appropriate home-based management strategies. Therefore, this community service activity aimed to empower mothers through education and assistance to prevent ARI as part of efforts to reduce stunting risk. The goal of this program was to improve maternal knowledge of ARI as a preventive measure against stunting. The method used was interactive health education delivered through a door-to-door approach to 16 mothers of toddlers during December 2024. The educational content included definitions, causes, symptoms, prevention, and home management of ARI, as well as its link to stunting. Evaluation was conducted using a pre-test and post-test design. The results showed a significant increase in maternal knowledge after the intervention. Before education, mothers' average knowledge of ARI was 49.48%. After education, the average knowledge increased to 87.6%. Interactive health education is effective in increasing mothers' knowledge of ARI as part of efforts to prevent stunting in toddlers.Interactive health education was effective in increasing maternal knowledge about acute respiratory infections (ARI) as part of efforts to prevent stunting in toddlers. Thus, interactive health education proved effective in enhancing mothers’ knowledge of ARI as part of stunting prevention efforts in young children. Keywords: acute respiratory infection; health education; mother of under five children, prevention; stunting.]]>
