The performance excellence of cadres of stunting compared to ordinary posyandu cadres in monitoring the nutritional status of toddlers in Demak Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Background:One of the breakthroughs in preventing child stunting in Indonesia is the formation of stunting prevention cadres(cadres of stunting) in villages to facilitatethe integrationof intervention at the village level. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the performance advantage of stunting prevention cadres compared to ordinary cadres in monitoring the nutritional status of children under five.Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study design conducted in 10 villages as the priority villages for the prevention of stunting in Demak Indonesia.The total number of samples was 231 cadres from 47 integrated health posts (posyandu), consisting of 41 cadres of stunting and 190 ordinary cadres.Methods and Material: Primary data collection was carried out through interviews with questionnaires and anthropometric measurements of children (height, length, and weight) with standard instruments.Statistical analysis used: The research data were analyzed using the differentiation test.Results: Stunting prevention cadres were younger, have fewer children, were more active in social groups, and were more multi-cadres than the ordinary cadres. Cadres of stunting did not differ in the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and self-efficacy compared to the ordinary cadres (p>0.05). They measured the length and height of the children more accurately than ordinary cadres (p<0.05). However, the results of HAZ, WAZ calculations, and the case findings of malnutrition based on anthropometric measurements were not different between the two groups of cadres. (p>0.05).Conclusions: Cadres of stunting performed better than ordinary cadres through more accurate child’s height/length measurements. Suyatno et al (2020): The performance excellence of the stunting prevention cadres Nov 2020 Vol. 23 Issue 25 Annals of Tropical Medicine & Public Health http://doi.org/10.36295/ASRO.2021.24189 Keyword:posyandu, cadres, stunting, performance, anthropometry, accuracy, precision, technical