Assessing the Need for Mobile Application Development in Stunting Prevention among Vulnerable Populations: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Stunting, a critical public health challenge affecting children under five globally, remains highly prevalent in Indonesia. While mobile health (mHealth) technologies have shown promise in improving maternal and child health outcomes, their application in addressing stunting prevention remains underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings. Objective: This study aimed to assess the need for developing a mobile application to prevent stunting among vulnerable populations in Indonesia. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed, involving 18 participants, including healthcare providers, community leaders, and caregivers of children under five from urban and rural settings. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Rigorous trustworthiness criteria were applied to ensure credibility and transferability. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) barriers to stunting prevention, including resource constraints, caregiver knowledge gaps, and policy limitations; (2) desired app features, such as educational content, growth tracking, and social support tools; (3) user expectations for functionality, emphasizing local language support, offline accessibility, and ease of use; and (4) anticipated implementation challenges, including technological barriers and sustained user engagement. Conclusion: The findings underscore the potential of a mobile application to address critical gaps in stunting prevention through tailored, accessible, and interactive features. Future research should focus on pilot testing and evaluating the app's usability and impact.