Nutrition Education for Adolescent Girls as a Strategy for Intergenerational Stunting Prevention: A Quantitative Study at SMAN 03 Rumbai
Indonesia Indonesia 
Article Sidebar
-
Education, Nutrition, Stunting
Abstract
Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem with long-term consequences for human capital and is influenced by nutritional conditions across the life course, including adolescence as a critical preconception period. Adolescent girls play a strategic role in intergenerational stunting prevention; however, nutrition literacy in this group remains relatively low. This study aimed to analyze the effect of nutrition education on improving nutrition knowledge among adolescent girls as a preventive strategy for intergenerational stunting among senior high school students.A quasi-experimental study with a one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted. The study participants consisted of 100 female students in grades X and XI from a senior high school in Rumbai, Indonesia, selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured nutrition knowledge questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. Data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro Wilk test, and differences in nutrition knowledge scores before and after the intervention were analyzed using a paired t-test with a significance level of p < 0.05.The mean nutrition knowledge score increased significantly from 65.42 ± 6.12 before the intervention to 81.30 ± 6.05 after the intervention (p < 0.001). A mean difference of 15.88 points indicates a substantial improvement in nutrition knowledge following the nutrition education program. In conclusion, nutrition education is effective in improving nutrition knowledge among adolescent girls and has the potential to serve as an upstream preventive strategy for intergenerational stunting.
Full text article
References
Azhari, M. A., & Fayasari, A. (2020). Pengaruh edukasi gizi dengan media ceramah dan video animasi terhadap pengetahuan, sikap, dan perilaku sarapan serta konsumsi sayur dan buah. AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal, 5(1), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.30867/action.v5i1.203
Beal, T., Tumilowicz, A., Sutrisna, A., Izwardy, D., & Neufeld, L. M. (2018). A review of child stunting determinants in Indonesia. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 14(4), e12617. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12617
Damayanti, A. P., & Rahma, A. (2025). Pengaruh permainan edukatif terhadap peningkatan kesadaran gizi seimbang pada remaja. Jurnal Gizi dan Kesehatan, 5(1), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.36086/jgk.v5i1.2893
Damayanti, E. R. (2022). Hubungan pola makan, aktivitas fisik, dan citra tubuh dengan status gizi lebih pada remaja putri di SMA Negeri 3 Tambun Selatan. Indonesian Journal of Health Development, 4(1), 35–45.
Farikhah, N. (2021). Pengaruh media edukasi gizi berbasis infografis dan web terhadap pengetahuan dan perilaku makan gizi seimbang mahasiswa IAIN Kudus. Dalam Proceedings of the National Conference of Islamic Natural Science (NCOINS) (Vol. 1, No. 1, hlm. 154–168).
Handayani, L., Saputri, M. E., Trisnowati, H., Novianti, T. N., Fitriani, I., Suryana, A. A., Vergawita, T., Nasir, A. J., & Aisyahrani, A. I. B. (2024). Flip chart–based nutrition education to improve knowledge and attitude toward stunting among adolescent girls. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 7(12), 2968–2975. https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i12.6381
Nurcahyani, I. D. (2020). Intervensi penyuluhan gizi seimbang dengan media video terhadap perubahan asupan zat gizi remaja putri. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan (JIKA), 2(3), 136–143.
Putri, T. P., Sitorus, R. J., & Rahmiwati, A. (2023). Hubungan pengetahuan tentang gizi seimbang dengan status gizi pada remaja. Jurnal Ners, 7(2), 952–957. https://doi.org/10.31004/jn.v7i2.15646
Romadhon, W. A., Wulandari, N. A., & Mahmudah, N. A. (2025). Peer group nutrition education for adolescent girls as a strategy to prevent stunting. Journal of Community Service for Health, 6(2), 41–47. https://doi.org/10.26699/jcsh.v6i2.1261
Wahyuni, F. C., Karomah, U., Basrowi, R. W., Sitorus, N. L., & Lestari, L. A. (2023). Literasi gizi dan pencegahan stunting: Sebuah tinjauan sistematis. Amerta Nutrition, 7(3), 71–85. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v7i3.2023.71-85
Akombi-Inyang, B. (2025). Nutrition Programs and Policies for Maternal and Child Health. Nutrients, 17(15). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152397
Anyati, C., Okello, D. M., Mainimo, E. N., & Okello-Uma, I. (2025). Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practices among caregivers and nutritional status of children 6–24 months: Evidence from Amuria and Soroti districts of Uganda. Discover Food, 5(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00369-8
Azhar, M., Yasin, R., Hanif, S., Bughio, S. A., Das, J. K., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2025). Nutritional Management of Low Birth Weight and Preterm Infants in Low- and Low Middle-Income Countries. Neonatology, 122, 209–223. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1159/000542154
Bezie, M. M., Seifu, B. L., Asebe, H. A., Asnake, A. A., Negussie, Y. M., Asmare, Z. A., Melkam, M., & Fente, B. M. (2025). Population attributable fraction of risk factors for anemia among children aged 6-59 months: A multilevel complex data analysis using modified poisson regression model in Sub-Saharan Africa. PLOS ONE, 20(6 June). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0324835
Brown, C., Kandpal, E., Lee, J., & Williams, A. (2025). Nutritional Inequality and Policy Targeting in South Asia. Population and Development Review. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.70035
Burger, R., Du Plessis, L., Gangaidzo, T., Slemming, W., & Wills, G. (2025). Priority interventions for reducing stunting in the complementary feeding age group in South Africa. Development Southern Africa. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2025.2596786
Bustos, M., Lau, L., Manguerra, H., & Dodd, W. (2025). Sociodemographic factors associated with concurrent stunting and wasting among children experiencing extreme poverty in the Philippines: A cross-sectional study. Nutrition and Health, 31(2), 585–596. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060231203422
Fahmida, U., Htet, M. K., Ameline, A. S., Angelin, T. C., Kolopaking, R., Davies-Kershaw, H., & Ferguson, E. (2025). Nutrition and non-nutrition determinants of maternal mental disorders, stress, and depression in pregnancy amidst a global pandemic: Findings from Action Against Stunting Hub Indonesia. British Journal of Nutrition. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114525105515
Fatkuriyah, L., Nafista, U. F., Hidayati, A., & Cahyono, H. D. (2025). Risk Factors of Stunting among Children in Rural Area of Jember, Indonesia. Malaysian Journal of Nursing, 16(4), 165–176. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2025.v16i04.016
Fogarty, B., García-Martínez, A., Chawla, N. V., & Serván-Mori, E. (2025). Social and economic predictors of under-five stunting in Mexico: A comprehensive approach through the XGB model. Journal of Global Health, 15. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.7189/JOGH.15.04065
Guo, W., Zgambo, M., Sanmei, S., & Shimpuku, Y. (2025). Prevalence and trends of coexisting forms of malnutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in South and Southeast Asia, 1996–2022: A cross-sectional time series study. BMC Public Health, 25(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23482-w
Haniarti, H., Sabriani, S., Nurlinda, N., & Umar, F. (2025). Socio-Cultural Influences on Stunting Children Aged 24-59 Months: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Bugis Community of Indonesia. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 8(8), 818–830. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v8i8.7946
Hasib Joarder, M. A., Saha, P., Chakraborty, S., Akter, K., Amir, S., Chowdhury, M. R., Dowllah, I. M., Alam, U. K., Jai Maug, A. K., & Alam, M. M. (2025). Nutritional status of adolescents undergoing tuberculosis treatment in urban Bangladesh: Prevalence and determinants of malnutrition. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 37(5), 315–323. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2025-0064
Hu, M., Liu, L., Zhang, Y., Zeng, T., Zhou, Z., Nong, Z., Qin, D.-H., Guan, H.-B., & Zeng, D.-Y. (2025). Recent trends and influencing factors of stunting among infants and young children aged 6-23 months in rural areas of Liuzhou from 2017 to 2023. Modern Preventive Medicine, 52(15), 2769–2774. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.20043/j.cnki.MPM.202501052
Jaleel, A., Surya Goud, C. S., Shankar, S., & Venkatesh, K. (2025). Nourishing the future: Exploring the factors influencing minimum diet diversity and minimum acceptable diet among Indian children aged 6–23 months. Journal of Public Health (Germany), 33(5), 1057–1069. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-02085-y
Lundberg, K., Moragues-Faus, A., Thornton, L., Cohen, N., Diekmann, L., & De-Regil, L. M. (2025). Paving the way: Urban Health, Food Systems, and the Imperative for Holistic City-Led Action. F1000Research, 14. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.163042.1
Mekuriaw, B. Y., Molla, A., Negash, M., Teferi, T., Habtamu, E., Wale, M., & Chekol, A. (2025). Predictors of depression among caregivers of children with malnutrition in Gedeo zone public hospitals, Southern Ethiopia: Case-control study. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06959-1
Mokori, A., Kirimi, N., Ndungutse, A. H., Fusheini, Z., & Ssenyondo, M. (2025). Simultaneous Wasting and Stunting (WaSt), Wasting and Anemia (WaAn) and Wasting, Stunting and Anemia (WaStAn) Among Children 6–59 Months in Karamoja, Uganda. Food Science and Nutrition, 13(11). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.71149
Mukhopadhyay, K. (2025). Nourishing the Future Generations: Role of Maternal Education, Empowerment and Autonomy. Indian Pediatrics, 62(7), 547–548. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-025-00095-5
Pasha, M., Shimul, M. M. H., Hossain, R., Khandker, S., Khan, S., & Mehriban, N. (2025). Nutritional status and determinants of malnutrition among under-five children in a specialized hospital in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Nutrition Open Science, 64, 192–202. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2025.10.008
Samuel, A., Noor, R., Tefera, N., Hussien, A., Gebremedhin, G., Mbuya, M., Amare, E., Woldeyohannes, M., Fikresilassie, G., Girma, M., Petros, A., Senbeta, A., Tessema, B., Challa, F., Baye, K., Laillou, A., Chuko, T., Tollera, G., Hailu, M., … Tessema, M. (2025). Potential Impact of Large-Scale Food Fortification in Ethiopia: Coverage and Knowledge of Fortifiable Foods. Maternal and Child Nutrition. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.70055
Shiyami, N. D. S., & Mardiana, n. (2025). RISK FACTOR FOR STUNTING IN TODDLERS AGED 24–59 MONTHS IN KERSANA PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER WORKING AREA. Media Gizi Indonesia, 20(1), 63–73. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.20473/mgi.v20i1.63-73
Soharwardi, M. A., Malik, N. I., Anjum, R., Haleem, M. S., Leghari, I. U., Ahmad, J. B., Maryam, R., Nazir, M., Fatima, S., Ahmed, F., & Tang, K. (2025). Role of Maternal Empowerment in Addressing Child Malnutrition: Evidence from Asian Developing Countries. Children, 12(5). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12050597
Worku, M. G., Mohanty, I., Mengesha, Z., & Niyonsenga, T. (2025). Risk Factors of Standalone and Coexisting Forms of Undernutrition Among Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Study Using Data from 26 Country-Based Demographic and Health Surveys. Nutrients, 17(2). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17020252
Zemariam, A. B., Abate, B. B., Alamaw, A. W., Lake, E. S., Yilak, G., Ayele, M., Tilahun, B. D., & Ngusie, H. S. (2025). Prediction of stunting and its socioeconomic determinants among adolescent girls in Ethiopia using machine learning algorithms. PLOS ONE, 20(1 January). Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316452
