What is it about?
This study pioneers a model to boost maternal caregiving capabilities to prevent stunting in children aged 6–23 months in Indonesia, using insights from the UNICEF model of care. By engaging 600 mother-child pairs across seven health centers in Surabaya, East Java, it unveils the significant influence of child, mother, and household factors on maternal caregiving capabilities. Crucially, it finds that enhanced maternal capabilities directly lead to better nutritional practices, vital for staving off stunting. This research emphasizes the need for targeted support to mothers, highlighting the role of perceived health, psychological well-being, and decision-making in nurturing stunting-preventive behaviors.
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Photo by Kevin Gent on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Our work introduces a novel, comprehensive approach to stunting prevention that focuses on empowering mothers through enhanced caregiving capabilities. In a landscape where stunting remains a persistent challenge, especially in regions like Indonesia, this model offers a timely solution rooted in the UNICEF framework. It stands out by highlighting specific factors - including economic level and food security - that can be targeted to improve maternal abilities, thereby setting a new direction for interventions aimed at reducing childhood stunting rates.
Perspectives
This study marks a critical juncture in our understanding of stunting prevention, bringing to light the profound impact of nurturing maternal caregiving capabilities. My involvement has deepened my conviction in the power of informed, capable mothers to forge a healthier future for their children. Witnessing the transformational potential of our model, I am hopeful that our findings will inspire actionable strategies that recognize and bolster the pivotal role mothers play in combating childhood stunting.
Mr Ferry Efendi
Universitas Airlangga
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Enhancing Maternal Caregiving Capabilities Model to Prevent Childhood Stunting: A UNICEF-Inspired Model, SAGE Open Nursing, January 2024, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/23779608231226061.
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