<![CDATA[This study aims to explore the extent of parents' and Posyandu cadres' understanding of the importance of early detection of growth and development in children aged 0 - 72 months as a preventive measure against developmental disorders. The research employed a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews and direct observation at the Silindit Posyandu. Participants included 15 parents of young children, two professional healthcare workers, and several active Posyandu cadres. The findings indicate that while the educational sessions provided at the Posyandu have increased parental awareness, their understanding of developmental disorder indicators remains limited. Several factors influence the effectiveness of early detection programs, including parental knowledge, the accessibility of Posyandu services, and the family's socioeconomic conditions. On the other hand, although Posyandu plays a crucial role, its implementation still faces challenges such as limited human resources, low parental engagement, and the lack of ongoing training for cadres. Therefore, the study recommends enhancing parental education on normal child development stages, providing intensive training for cadres, and improving access to Posyandu services. These findings offer valuable insights for policy formulation and the development of more effective early intervention strategies to support optimal child development. ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menggali sejauh mana pemahaman orang tua dan kader Posyandu mengenai pentingnya deteksi dini terhadap pertumbuhan dan perkembangan anak usia 0–72 bulan sebagai langkah preventif terhadap gangguan perkembangan. Penelitian dilakukan dengan pendekatan kualitatif melalui wawancara mendalam dan observasi langsung di Posyandu Silindit. Partisipan meliputi 15 orang tua yang memiliki anak usia dini, dua tenaga medis profesional, serta sejumlah kader posyandu yang aktif. Hasil studi menunjukkan bahwa edukasi yang diberikan di Posyandu telah meningkatkan kesadaran orang tua, namun pemahaman mereka terkait tanda-tanda gangguan perkembangan masih terbatas. Beberapa faktor yang memengaruhi keberhasilan deteksi dini meliputi pengetahuan orang tua, ketersediaan dan kemudahan akses ke layanan Posyandu, serta kondisi sosial ekonomi keluarga. Di sisi lain, meskipun Posyandu memainkan peran penting, pelaksanaannya masih menghadapi tantangan seperti keterbatasan tenaga kader, rendahnya keterlibatan orang tua, dan kurangnya pelatihan berkala bagi kader. Oleh karena itu, studi ini merekomendasikan peningkatan edukasi bagi orang tua mengenai tahapan perkembangan anak, penyelenggaraan pelatihan intensif untuk kader, serta perbaikan akses terhadap layanan Posyandu. Temuan ini memberikan kontribusi berarti dalam perumusan kebijakan serta pengembangan strategi intervensi dini yang lebih efektif untuk mendukung tumbuh kembang anak secara optimal.]]>
