Maternal knowledge and stunting: A cultural and public health perspective on community health education

Abstract

Background: The incidence of stunting in children under five is one of the major global nutritional problems and remains a priority in public health, with an estimated 165 million children under the age of five affected by stunting. Stunting in young children is a consequence of multiple factors often associated with poverty, including nutrition, health, sanitation, and environmental conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between maternal knowledge levels and the incidence of stunting in the working area of Moncongloe Public Health Center. Methods: The research method used in this study was a cross-sectional design. The population consisted of all breastfeeding mothers at the Moncongloe Public Health Center. A total of 66 respondents were included in the sample. Findings: Maternal Knowledge on Stunting, significant relationship between maternal knowledge and stunting incidence, factors influencing maternal knowledge behaviors and practices related to stunting implications of the findings: Health education programs, community-based approaches, policies and interventions Conclusion: This highlights the importance of implementing more targeted interventions aimed at reducing stunting rates by enhancing maternal education and awareness about child health. Novelty/Originality of this article: The relationship between maternal knowledge and stunting incidence in the Public Health Center’s working area; integration of contextual knowledge in measurement; use of mixed-methods approach; focus on the influence of education and information access; analysis of knowledge differences based on socio-economic factors; development of knowledge-based intervention models; assessment of long-term impact of education; local context as a determining factor.