PKK-Based Family Empowerment Strategies for Stunting Prevention in Kuala Tanjung Village, Indonesia

Abstract

Stunting remains a significant nutritional challenge in many coastal areas of Indonesia, including Kuala Tanjung Village, Batu Bara Regency. This study aims to analyse PKK-based family empowerment strategies for stunting prevention within a coastal community context. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), participatory observations, and documentary analysis. The findings indicate that PKK plays an important role in strengthening cadre capacity, providing family nutrition education, encouraging mothers’ participation in health activities, and facilitating collaboration among community stakeholders. Activities such as counselling on the first 1,000 days of life, demonstrations of nutritious local food preparation, child growth monitoring, and family nutrition initiatives were associated with increased community participation and observed changes in household dietary practices. Collaboration among PKK cadres, health workers, posyandu, and village authorities further supported programme implementation. However, challenges remained, particularly variations in cadres’ technical capacity and socio-cultural perceptions of stunting. The findings suggest that participatory empowerment, the use of locally available food resources, and cross-sectoral collaboration may contribute to creating a supportive family and community environment for stunting prevention. The proposed empowerment model should therefore be understood as a context-specific conceptual synthesis, with potential transferability to coastal or rural communities with comparable socio-economic, cultural, and institutional conditions.