Posyandu's Role in Toddler Growth Screening and Early Stunting Detection, Sindet Bantul

Abstract

The toddler years are a critical “golden age” for determining a child's future health and intelligence. This community-service study evaluated the role of Posyandu in growth monitoring, developmental screening, parent education, and early identification of possible stunting concerns in Dukuh Sindet, Bantul. Methods included caregiver interviews, physical examinations through anthropometric measurement, developmental screening using the age-appropriate KPSP instrument, counseling, discussion, and leaflet-based education. Complete KPSP records were available for 23 children: 18 were classified as developmentally appropriate, 3 had questionable results, and 2 had inappropriate results involving motor, language, socialization, and independence aspects. Anthropometric records were available for 56 children and showed differences in mean height and weight across age groups. However, individual age- and sex-specific height-for-age z-scores were not available, so the data could not support a definitive stunting classification or the conclusion that all growth was normal. Interviews also showed that some parents lacked knowledge of appropriate home stimulation and did not fully understand the broader monitoring and educational functions of Posyandu. The activity indicates that Posyandu can support developmental screening, parent education, stimulation guidance, and referral. Standardized individual anthropometric assessment and documented follow-up are still required for early stunting detection.