Kepercayaan dan Ritual Sebagai Penghambat atau Pendukung Dalam Pencegahan Stunting: Studi Literatur Review - Badrul Hisyam; Tantut Susanto; Suhari Suhari (Universitas Malahayati, 2026)
ABSTRACT Hereditary beliefs and rituals have a significant role in shaping children. Most of these traditions can contribute positively to children's health, but in some cases, beliefs that are not based on science have the potential to hinder stunting prevention efforts. Research Objectives: this study aims to identify the rituals and cultures that play a role in inhibiting or preventing stunting as well as identifying community-based approaches that can be applied. Methods: this study used a literature review design. In the literature selection and evaluation process, the protocol uses Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The literature search was conducted between September to October 2025 in various journal databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on publications from the last five years (2021-2025) Results: traditional rituals and beliefs support stunting prevention efforts, such as the provision of nutritious, natural foods and the prohibition of the consumption of unhealthy processed foods. However, on the other hand, there are cultural practices that can hinder health interventions, such as the taboo on certain nutritious foods for pregnant women and children under five due to myths that are not based on nutrition science Conclusion: traditional beliefs and rituals have a dual role in stunting prevention. Some traditions support healthy eating and the maintenance of children's nutrition, but there are also beliefs that hinder the implementation of evidence-based health policies. Keywords: Stunting, Beliefs and Rituals, and Prevention of Stunting. ABSTRAK Kepercayaan dan ritual yang diwariskan secara turun-temurun memiliki peran signifikan dalam membentuk anak. Sebagian besar tradisi ini dapat berkontribusi positif terhadap kesehatan anak, namun dalam beberapa kasus, kepercayaan yang tidak berbasis pada ilmu pengetahuan justru berpotensi menghambat upaya pencegahan stunting. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi ritual dan budaya berperan dalam menghambat atau mencegah stunting serta mengidentifikasi pendekatan berbasis komunitas yang dapat diterapkan. Metode: penelitian ini menggunakan desain tinjauan literatur. Dalam proses seleksi dan evaluasi literatur, protokol menggunakan Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Pencarian literatur dilakukan antara September hingga Oktober 2025 di berbagai database jurnal, seperti PubMed, Scopus, dan Google Scholar, dengan fokus pada publikasi dari lima tahun terakhir (2021-2025) Hasil: ritual dan kepercayaan tradisional dukung upaya pencegahan stunting, seperti pemberian makanan alami yang kaya gizi dan larangan terhadap konsumsi makanan olahan yang kurang sehat. Namun, di sisi lain, terdapat praktik budaya yang dapat menghambat intervensi kesehatan, seperti pantangan terhadap makanan bergizi tertentu bagi ibu hamil dan anak balita akibat mitos yang tidak berbasis pada ilmu gizi Kesimpulan: kepercayaan dan ritual tradisional memiliki peran ganda dalam pencegahan stunting. Beberapa tradisi mendukung pola makan sehat dan pemeliharaan gizi anak, namun ada juga kepercayaan yang menghambat penerapan kebijakan kesehatan yang berbasis bukti. Kata Kunci: Stunting, Kepercayaan Dan Ritual, Pencegahan Stunting.