Pemberdayaan Kelompok Keluarga dalam memenuhi Protein Hewani (Ikan Lele) untuk Pencegahan dan Penanganan Balita Stunting di Huntu Utara - Paulus Pangalo; Wenny Ino Ischak; Ahmad Aswad; Zulfiayu Zulfiayu; Sri Susanti Papuke (Poltekkes Kemenkes Gorontalo, 2025)
Prevalensi stunting di Provinsi Gorontalo tahun 2021 sebesar 29% dan tahun 2022 terjadi penurunan menjadi 23,8%. Di Kabupaten Bone Bolango prevalensi stunting tahun 2021 sebesar 25,1% dan pada tahun 2022 terjadi penurunan menjadi 22,3%. Hasil penimbangan pada bulan Maret 2023 menunjukkan bahwa dari 65 balita, sebanyak 8 balita (12%) tergolong sangat pendek berdasarkan indikator tinggi badan menurut umur (TB/U), dan 10 balita (15%) mengalami gizi kurang berdasarkan indikator berat badan menurut umur (BB/U). Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa proporsi balita stunting di Desa Huntu Utara masih berada di bawah angka rata-rata Kabupaten Bone Bolango. Stunting di desa tersebut terutama disebabkan oleh rendahnya asupan nutrisi, khususnya protein hewani, yang berkaitan dengan keterbatasan pendapatan keluarga. Program pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini bertujuan untuk menurunkan prevalensi stunting, meningkatkan pengetahuan keluarga mengenai pencegahan dan penanganan stunting, serta memperkuat pemahaman keluarga tentang peran mereka dalam bidang kesehatan, dan tersedianya 1 unit kolam budidaya ikan lele dengan metode bioflok. Hasil kegiatan menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pengetahuan sasaran mengenai pencegahan dan penanganan stunting, dari < 80% sebelum intervensi menjadi > 85% setelah intervensi. Selain itu, terjadi pula peningkatan pengetahuan sasaran tentang peran keluarga di bidang kesehatan, dari < 75% sebelum intervensi menjadi > 85% setelah intervensi. Terjadi penurunan kasus balita stunting dari 8 balita menjadi 4. Tersedia kolam sudah terisi ikan lele sebanyak 1.300 ekor dan dapat dipanen bulan Januari 2025.The prevalence of stunting in Gorontalo Province in 2021 was 29%, and it declined to 23.8% in 2022. In Bone Bolango Regency, the prevalence of stunting was 25.1% in 2021 and decreased to 22.3% in 2022. Anthropometric assessments conducted in March 2023 showed that among 65 children under five, 8 children (12%) were classified as severely stunted based on the height-for-age (H/A) indicator, and 10 children (15%) were identified as underweight according to the weight-for-age (W/A) indicator. These findings indicate that the proportion of stunted children in Huntu Utara Village remains below the average prevalence in Bone Bolango Regency. Stunting in this village is primarily attributed to inadequate nutritional intake, particularly animal protein, which is associated with limited household income. This community engagement program aimed to reduce stunting prevalence, improve family knowledge regarding stunting prevention and management, strengthen family understanding of their roles in maintaining health, and establish one unit of a biofloc-based catfish aquaculture pond. The results demonstrated an increase in participants’ knowledge of stunting prevention and management, from <80% prior to the intervention to >85% after the intervention. In addition, knowledge related to family roles in health increased from <75% before the intervention to >85% afterward. A reduction in stunting cases was also observed, from eight children to four. One aquaculture pond stocked with 1,300 catfish was successfully established and is expected to be ready for harvest in January 2025.