Publication Search

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that is still prevalent in the community and has long-term impacts on physical growth, cognitive development, and the quality of human resources. One effort to prevent stunting is through a community service-based nutrition education program. This activity aims to analyze the implementation of a nutrition education program as a stunting prevention effort in Pasar Rawa Village, Gebang District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. The method used was a descriptive qualitative approach with a community service approach. The target group included PKK mothers and local mothers with toddlers. The activity was carried out through the delivery of balanced nutrition education materials, an introduction to stunting, and a discussion and question-and-answer session. The results of the activity showed active participant participation and increased awareness of the importance of fulfilling children's nutritional needs. However, some mothers still did not fully understand the concept of stunting, and some toddlers still experienced stunting. Therefore, nutrition education needs to be carried out sustainably and integrated with other health programs.

The increasing consumption of packaged food products in Indonesia reflects modern lifestyle changes but simultaneously raises public health concerns related to high calorie, sugar, and fat intake. Nutritional information presented on food labels consists of multiple interrelated variables, making it difficult to identify dominant nutritional factors that characterize packaged food products. This study aims to apply Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of nutritional data and to map the nutritional characteristics of packaged food products in Indonesia. The research employs a quantitative exploratory approach using secondary data obtained from nutrition facts labels of 1,651 packaged food products. Seven nutritional variables were initially analyzed, namely total energy, protein, total fat, total carbohydrates, sugar, sodium, and dietary fiber. Data preprocessing included data cleaning, Z-score standardization, and iterative variable selection based on the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity to ensure sampling adequacy and sufficient correlation among variables. Variables with low sampling adequacy and perfect multicollinearity were eliminated, resulting in five variables retained for the final PCA model. Principal components were extracted using the eigenvalue greater than one criterion and confirmed through a scree plot, followed by Varimax rotation to enhance interpretability. The results indicate the formation of two principal components explaining approximately 69.7% of the total variance. The first component represents energy density and macronutrient richness, while the second component reflects carbohydrate-related characteristics, particularly the contrasting pattern between sugar and dietary fiber. Biplot visualization further illustrates product distribution based on these components. The findings demonstrate that PCA effectively simplifies complex nutritional information and provides a clear nutritional mapping of packaged food products, offering practical insights for consumers, producers, and policymakers in supporting healthier food choices in Indonesia.

Adulteration of rice bran is commonly done by mixing it with materials of similar appearance but lower nutritional value, such as ground rice husk. A key indicator of such adulteration is increased lignin content. Adding phloroglucinol solution to the mixture produces a red color that varies with lignin levels. This study aims to estimate lignin content in rice bran-husk mixtures using artificial intelligence and digital image processing. YCbCr color model images of eleven rice bran-husk compositions, treated with phloroglucinol, were analyzed. The lignin content of each variation was measured in the lab and used to define eleven classes. A Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN) was employed as the classifier, with image histograms of varying bin sizes as input. PNN performance was evaluated using 4-fold cross-validation. Results showed the highest average accuracy of 85.80% with 32 bins and histograms from all three YCbCr channels.     

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Papua, Indonesia, with a high incidence rate and significant hematological complications. One of the main impacts of malaria infection is anemia caused by a decrease in hemoglobin levels. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hemoglobin levels and malaria parasite species among patients at Sentani Health Center, Jayapura Regency. This was an analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 50 malaria-positive patients confirmed by microscopic examination were included as samples. Data collected included gender, parasite species, nutritional status, hemoglobin level, and parasite count, analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a 95% confidence level (α=0.05). The results showed that most respondents were male (54%) and predominantly infected by Plasmodium falciparum (66%). The majority had normal nutritional status (40%), and the distribution between normal and abnormal hemoglobin levels was equal (50% each). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between body mass index and hemoglobin level (p=0.03), but no significant relationship between parasite species and hemoglobin level (p=0.145). These findings indicate that nutritional status plays a more dominant role in determining hemoglobin levels than parasite species variation. In conclusion, anemia among malaria patients in endemic regions is influenced not only by the infecting Plasmodium species but also by individual nutritional factors. Integrated interventions focusing on nutritional improvement and malaria control are essential to reduce anemia risk in endemic areas such as Papua. Malaria remains a major public health problem in Papua, Indonesia, with a high incidence rate and significant hematological complications. One of the main impacts of malaria infection is anemia caused by a decrease in hemoglobin levels. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hemoglobin levels and malaria parasite species among patients at Sentani Health Center, Jayapura Regency. This was an analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 50 malaria-positive patients confirmed by microscopic examination were included as samples. Data collected included gender, parasite species, nutritional status, hemoglobin level, and parasite count, analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a 95% confidence level (α=0.05). The results showed that most respondents were male (54%) and predominantly infected by Plasmodium falciparum (66%). The majority had normal nutritional status (40%), and the distribution between normal and abnormal hemoglobin levels was equal (50% each). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between body mass index and hemoglobin level (p=0.03), but no significant relationship between parasite species and hemoglobin level (p=0.145). These findings indicate that nutritional status plays a more dominant role in determining hemoglobin levels than parasite species variation. In conclusion, anemia among malaria patients in endemic regions is influenced not only by the infecting Plasmodium species but also by individual nutritional factors. Integrated interventions focusing on nutritional improvement and malaria control are essential to reduce anemia risk in endemic areas such as Papua.

Malnutrition in children remains a serious public health challenge in Indonesia because it directly impacts growth, cognitive development, and the child's future quality of life. Parents play a crucial role in maintaining children's health, particularly in providing balanced nutrition and preventing nutritional problems such as stunting and malnutrition. This study aims to analyze the role of parents in maintaining children's health due to malnutrition based on a literature review. The method used is a qualitative literature study, through a search of various written sources in the form of scientific journals, articles, and relevant books obtained from Google Scholar. The results of the study indicate that the level of knowledge, education, parenting patterns, socioeconomic conditions, and active involvement of parents in monitoring children's growth significantly influence children's nutritional status and health. Parents play a role as providers of nutritious food, nutrition educators, role models of healthy lifestyles, and regular monitors of children's growth and development. Parents' lack of understanding of balanced nutrition, the habit of consuming instant foods, and minimal participation in health programs are risk factors for malnutrition in children. Therefore, increasing parental education and involvement through a family-based approach is an important strategy in efforts to prevent and address child nutrition problems sustainably.

The low level of interest in learning for elementary school students remains a fundamental problem in the implementation of basic education in Indonesia. One factor suspected of contributing to this condition is the lack of optimal fulfillment of students' physical health and nutritional needs. The Free Nutritional Meal Program (MBG) is strategic government policy aimed at improving students' nutritional status as an effort support learning readiness and the quality of learning in schools. This study aims to analyze the effect of the Free Nutritional Meal Program on increasing interest in learning for elementary school students. The study used a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design using a one-group pretest-posttest model. The research subjects included elementary school students and teachers directly involved in the implementation of the MBG program. Data collection techniques were carried out through a learning interest questionnaire, observation of student learning activities, and structured interviews with teachers. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics in the form of paired t-tests determine differences in learning interest before and after the program implementation. The results of the study are expected to show an increase in student interest learning after participating in the Free Nutritional Meal Program, which is characterized by increased attention, activeness, and motivation in the learning process. These findings are expected to provide empirical evidence that the Free Nutritional Meal Program not only contributes improving students' physical and health conditions, but also has positive impact on the psychological and academic aspects elementary school students.

Concurrent stunting and overweight/obesity (CSO) in adolescents represents a complex form of the double burden of malnutrition, characterized by linear growth faltering coexisting with excess body fat. This condition poses significant metabolic, cognitive, and reproductive risks that may affect long-term health and productivity. This review employs a narrative literature approach by synthesizing evidence from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and national journal portals. Included literature comprises studies assessing stunting, overweight/obesity, metabolic risk, cognitive function, and reproductive health among adolescents. Indonesian evidence (Harits et al., 2024) indicates that obese adolescents with a history of stunting exhibit a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (18.75%), greater abdominal adiposity, and elevated systolic blood pressure compared to non-stunted obese peers. Biologically, stunting impairs neurocognitive development and reduces muscle mass, while obesity promotes metabolic inflammation; the coexistence of these factors may reduce physical fitness, learning capacity, and overall productivity. CSO also affects reproductive health, including increased risks of ovulatory dysfunction, delayed sexual maturation, and intergenerational nutritional disadvantages. Although linear growth recovery is limited due to epiphyseal closure, functional recovery through improved diet quality and physical activity remains possible. In conclusion, adolescents with CSO experience greater metabolic, cognitive, and reproductive vulnerabilities than those affected by stunting or obesity alone. Interventions emphasizing metabolic function, diet quality, physical fitness, and reproductive health preparation are essential to prevent long-term consequences and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition. Further national research is required to map the prevalence and implications of CSO comprehensively.

The production of breast milk is essential for promoting optimal growth and developmental outcomes in infants throughout the first six months of life. Nevertheless, several studies have indicated that some breastfeeding mothers face challenges in producing adequate milk, often influenced by nutritional status, psychological conditions, and environmental support. The katuk plant (Sauropus androgynus), a well-known local herb, has long been recognized for its potential as a natural galactagogue that can stimulate breast milk production. The innovation of processing katuk leaf extract into biscuits offers a more practical, convenient, and potentially acceptable alternative for daily consumption among the community. The present study aimed to examine the impact of katuk leaf biscuits on breast milk production among breastfeeding mothers within the jurisdiction of Kuta Baro Health Center, Aceh Besar District. A pre-experimental design utilizing a one-group pretest–posttest method was implemented, involving 20 breastfeeding mothers who fulfilled the established inclusion criteria. Data collection was carried out through the administration of questionnaires and by measuring breast milk volume using a calibrated measuring cup.The study findings indicated that before the intervention, most participants had relatively low breast milk production, averaging 69.1 ml. After a seven-day intervention, the mean breast milk volume showed a significant increase to 246.5 ml, with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), the findings indicate that katuk leaf biscuits exert a significant influence on increasing breast milk production. Overall, this study underscores the potential of locally sourced, herbal-based food innovations as an effective and sustainable approach to enhancing breast milk production and supporting the success of exclusive breastfeeding programs.

Anemia is a micronutrient deficiency problem that is common in various parts of the world. Indonesia is one of the countries with a high anemia rate. According to the 2024 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas), the anemia rate in adolescent girls reached 32%. Breakfast habits and consumption of iron supplements affect daily nutritional intake. Low hemoglobin levels occur due to infrequent iron supplement consumption and inadequate food intake, resulting in a lack of iron stores in the body. The purpose of this study was to encourage adolescent girls to continue maintaining good habits of consuming iron supplements and having a healthy breakfast. This study used a quantitative analytical observational method with a cross-sectional design. The target population was female students of SMPN 1 Nibong. The study was conducted at SMPN 1 Nibong. The sample was obtained using a cluster random sampling technique of 50 respondents. The results of the chi-square test showed a strong association between breakfast habits and the risk of anemia, with a p-value of 0.000, which is far below 0.05, so technically significant. In essence, breakfast habits and blood supplement consumption have been shown to influence the risk of anemia in adolescent girls at SMPN 1 Nibong. The school is expected to promote understanding of nutrition and the importance of breakfast and blood supplement consumption, as well as motivate students to eat breakfast and consume blood supplement tablets regularly.

The increasing proportion of the elderly population in Indonesia has led to a rise in degenerative health problems, one of which is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by decreased bone density, increasing the risk of fractures, particularly among elderly women. Low calcium intake, lack of physical activity, and limited knowledge regarding osteoporosis prevention are major contributing factors. This community service activity aimed to improve the knowledge of Aisyiyah women in Cirebon Regency regarding osteoporosis in the elderly, including its definition, risk factors, impacts, and prevention strategies through proper nutrition and regular physical activity. The activity was conducted from October to December at the Aisyiyah Study Hall in Cirebon Regency, targeting pre-elderly and elderly women. The methods used included health education through lectures and interactive question-and-answer sessions, supported by laptops, LCD projectors, and PowerPoint presentations. Evaluation of participants’ knowledge was carried out using oral pre-tests and post-tests related to the delivered material. The results indicated an improvement in participants’ understanding of osteoporosis, the importance of adequate calcium intake, and the role of physical activity in maintaining bone health. This community service program is expected to contribute to increasing health awareness and reducing the risk and prevalence of osteoporosis among the elderly.

Stunting remains a major chronic nutritional problem in Indonesia, including Aceh, and has serious impacts on children’s physical growth and cognitive development. Prevention efforts require appropriate, practical, and sustainable nutritional interventions, including the use of local foods such as pumpkin, which is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin A, carbohydrates, and fiber, and can be combined with animal and plant protein sources. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an instant pumpkin-based porridge in improving the weight and height of children aged 6–24 months who are at risk of stunting in the Gunung Meriah Health Center area. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group involving 41 children divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received the instant porridge for 21 days. Data analyzed using paired t-tests and independent t-tests showed significant improvements in the intervention group’s weight and height (p<0.05). The pumpkin-based instant porridge proved effective as a local food–based nutritional intervention and has the potential to be integrated into supplementary feeding programs and regional nutrition policies with broader coverage and longer duration..

Stunting is a health issue that remains a concern for the government, particularly in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely the nutritional status of children under five. Stunting, or chronic malnutrition, causes children to fail to grow, which is influenced by mothers' knowledge of nutritional fulfillment in children, especially from the first 1,000 days of birth until the child is 2 years old. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of health education on parents in preventing stunting in Sumeith Pasinaro Village. The targets of this study were pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and parents who had children aged 1-5 years. This study used a One Group Pre-test-Post-test design with paired sample t-test analysis. There were 12 participants in the activity. Data were collected through a multiple-choice questionnaire administered before and after the socialization with the material “Prevent Stunting from the Heart.” The average pre-test score of the participants was 6.75 and then increased to 9.33 on the post-test, with a difference of 2.58. The paired sample t-test results showed a Sig. (2-tailed) value of 0.014 (< 0.05), indicating a significant increase in participants' knowledge after receiving education. Therefore, health education through socialization activities is effective in increasing mothers' knowledge about stunting prevention. Activities like this are important to continue as an effort to reduce the incidence of stunting in the community.

Nutritional status is a health condition that indicates whether or not nutrients are sufficient in the body. This is influenced by eating habits and the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Nutritional status assessment can be done by body measurements, diet analysis, or laboratory tests. This indicator shows the extent to which nutritional needs are met to support body function and growth. This study aims to determine the nutritional status of toddlers in Keude Nibong Village and the factors that influence it. The research design used a quantitative approach with a correlation method, involving 35 toddlers as samples. The results showed that most toddlers were male (52%) and most were aged 24-35 months and 48-59 months (23.7% each). A total of 29 toddlers (83%) had good nutritional status, while 6 toddlers (17%) were malnourished. The nutritional condition of toddlers was generally good, but regular monitoring by health workers and the village government through integrated health posts (posyandu) is needed. Further research is recommended to examine factors such as diet, economy, and parental education that influence children's nutritional status.

The nutritional status of toddlers is an important indicator that reflects the level of public health in a region. This study aims to analyze the nutritional status of children aged 0–5 years in Teupin Desa Teupin Gapeuh Kecamatan Tanah Pasir Kabupaten Aceh Utara. This research employed a descriptive quantitative method using secondary data obtained from health records and posyandu (integrated health post) reports. The study involved a total of 60 children under five, consisting of 33 boys and 27 girls. The findings revealed that based on the weight-for-age (W/A) index, 81.7% of children had normal nutritional status, 13.3% were undernourished, and 3.3% were severely undernourished. Based on height-for-age (H/A), 90.0% were normal, 5.0% were short, and 3.3% were very short. According to the weight-for-height (W/H) index, 83.3% were normal, 11.7% were undernourished, and 5.0% were at risk of overweight. Furthermore, the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 8.3%, 11.7%, and 16.7% respectively. These results indicate that although most children have normal nutritional status, some still experience nutritional deficiencies that require special attention. Therefore, health workers and local governments need to strengthen nutrition education programs, increase community awareness of balanced nutrition, and improve monitoring of child growth to prevent malnutrition in the area

Wheat has limited nutritional content, therefore fortification with other ingredients is required to complement these nutrients, one of which is fortification with pineapple peel flour and chicken bones in noodle products. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of adding chicken bone and pineapple peel flours on the characteristics of wheat flour noodles, with the goal of developing a product enriched in fiber and minerals, and exhibiting acceptable sensory qualities. The research design used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 experimental factors, namely pineapple peel flour concentration (0%,3%,5%) and chicken bone flour concentration (0%,5%,10%) with triplicate replication. Based on the optimal treatment by Zeleny method, sample N1T3 emerged as the most favorable formulation. This sample exhibited the following chemical profile: a moisture content of 8.77%, an ash content of 4.52%, a protein content of 14.45%, a fat content of 1.52%, and a fiber content of 0.4%. Furthermore, sensory evaluation of Sample C yielded scores of 3.11 for color, 3.11 for aroma, 3.00 for taste, 2.89 for texture, and 2.89 for overall acceptance.

Puberty in girls is a developmental stage where sexual maturation occurs as a manifestation of reproductive ability, marked by the first menstruation (menarche), a form of primary sexual maturity in girls. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between nutritional status and maternal menarche history with early menarche in elementary school students in grades 4-6 at SDN 01 Nagrak Gunung Putri Bogor in September 2025. This research was a quantitative, observational analytical study using a cross-sectional approach. It was conducted at SDN 01 Nagrak Gunung Putri Bogor from August to September 2025 with a sample of 49 respondents. Univariate and bivariate data analysis used the Chi-Square Test. The results showed a relationship between nutritional status and early menarche (p-value = 0.001 and OR = 3.7) and maternal menarche history with early menarche (p-value = 0.000 and OR = 7.3). The study concluded that there is a relationship between maternal nutritional status and menarche history with early menarche. It is recommended that SDN 01 Nagrak Gunung Putri Bogor collaborate with the nearest community health center and the Health College to conduct outreach activities on reproductive health.

Stunting remains one of the major chronic nutritional problems in Indonesia, including in Oesapa Village, Kelapa Lima District, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province. This condition is not only caused by inadequate nutritional intake but is also closely related to chronic infections resulting from poor hygiene and sanitation, particularly intestinal parasitic diseases. To reduce the risk of parasitic infections and improve children’s nutritional status, preventive efforts through education and health promotion are essential.This community service activity aimed to increase public awareness and knowledge, especially among parents and caregivers of stunted children, regarding the importance of maintaining hygiene and sanitation to prevent intestinal parasitic diseases. The methods used included participatory approaches such as interactive lectures, group discussions, and practical demonstrations of clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS), food hygiene, clean water management, and household waste disposal. Evaluation was conducted using pre-test and post-test instruments to measure changes in participants’ knowledge.The activities, carried out from May to September 2025 in Oesapa Village, showed a significant improvement in community understanding of hygiene and sanitation practices. Participants demonstrated greater commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness and adopting healthier daily behaviors. Continuous educational efforts and multisectoral support are needed to help reduce the prevalence of stunting in the region

This study aims to examine the relationship between occupational nutrition and employee productivity through a systematic literature review. The background of this research lies in the increasing attention to workplace health and the growing evidence that nutritional status can influence physical performance, cognitive function, and work outcomes. A total of 74 articles were initially identified from databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Garuda, of which 12 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed further. The findings indicate that adequate intake of macronutrients and micronutrients—particularly iron, protein, and B vitamins—correlates positively with productivity levels. Interventions such as nutritional education, iron supplementation, and structured meal programs at the workplace showed measurable effects in reducing absenteeism and fatigue while improving concentration and efficiency. The study concludes that occupational nutrition plays a vital role in supporting workforce performance and suggests its integration into workplace health policies. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, along with recommendations for future research

Toddler age is often called the golden period because during this period brain nerve development occurs, especially myelination, as well as a critical period. The golden period can be achieved if toddlers' nutritional needs are optimally met. On the other hand, if babies and toddlers do not get the food they need, the golden period will change into a critical period, thus disrupting their growth and development. The level of education of parents will affect the health and well-being of children, because this is inseparable from the nutritional status of children. Mothers with a high level of education will have a clearer opportunity to absorb information compared to mothers with less or no education. With a good level of education, it is hoped that a mother will be willing and able to behave well in order to improve her child's nutritional status. This Community Service activity aims to provide health education on balanced nutrition to reduce stunting in the community, especially mothers with toddlers in Desa Cangguk, Kecamatan Tanah Pasir, Kabupaten Aceh Utara. This activity used a participatory approach involving lecturers, students, health workers, and the community. The results showed an increase in public understanding and awareness of stunting prevention. It is hoped that this activity will raise public awareness about balanced nutrition for children

Early mobilization is an important component of postpartum midwifery care to prevent complications, accelerate physical recovery, and improve maternal comfort after delivery. However, not all mothers are able to perform early mobilization optimally due to fatigue, pain, and decreased energy after delivery. Sukari date palm juice (Extractum Phoenix dactylifera) is known to contain simple carbohydrates, minerals, and bioactive compounds that have the potential to increase energy and accelerate maternal recovery. This study aims to analyze the effect of consuming Sukari date palm juice on accelerating early mobilization of postpartum mothers from day 1 to day 3 in the working area of ​​the Sikui Community Health Center (UPT). The study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group approach. The study sample consisted of 30 postpartum mothers divided into an intervention group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). Early mobilization ability was assessed based on the time the mother was able to sit, stand, and walk. The results showed that postpartum mothers in the intervention group experienced a significant acceleration in early mobilization compared to the control group, particularly in walking ability, with a time difference of up to 8–12 hours faster. The results of the Mann–Whitney statistical test showed a significant effect of date palm juice consumption on the acceleration of early mobilization (p < 0.001). Thus, Sukari date palm juice has been proven to be effective in accelerating early mobilization and can be recommended as a supporting nutritional intervention in postpartum midwifery care.