Health Communication Management for Stunting Reduction: A Case Study of Lhokseumawe

Abstract

In Indonesia, stunting is a critical public health concern, with Aceh suffering from a nationally significant increase in the third prevalence of 33.2% in 2021. However, Lhokseumawe has achieved a substantial decrease this year, reducing stunting become 17.4% in 2024, below the national average. This qualitative exploratory study investigates the role of integrated health communication management in this success, focusing on the PPS (Diet, Parenting, Sanitation) program in four sub-districts. Through in-depth interviews with nine informants (healthcare workers, posyandu cadres, and community members), validated through triangulation, this study identifies key strategies: the BAAS program, the Gampong Nutrition House, and Supplementary Feeding, supported by pentahelix collaboration and media campaigns. This initiative promotes behavioural change by increasing nutritional awareness and community engagement. Challenges include misunderstandings about stunting, low stunting literacy, and socioeconomic barriers. The stunting management model in Lhokseumawe City aligns with the National Action Plan for Stunting Prevention (RAN PASTI) and global SDG targets, offering a replicable framework for regions with high prevalence. The findings emphasise the need for culturally sensitive communication and synergy across communication fields to sustain the decline. This study fills a gap in understanding how structured health communication transforms knowledge into action, providing insights to improve stunting prevention in Aceh and surrounding areas.