NERS NEWS – Students of the Professional Nursing Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Cohort B27, Group D4.3, conducted a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) activity on the topic of “Stunting” in the waiting area of the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic at Airlangga University Hospital on Friday, May 29, 2026. This activity was carried out as a promotive and preventive effort to increase public awareness and knowledge regarding stunting and the importance of its early prevention.
This educational activity was intended for patients and family members who were waiting for healthcare services at the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic. A total of 11 participants attended the session. The objective of this activity was to improve participants’ understanding of the definition of stunting, its causes, signs and symptoms, impacts, prevention strategies, and the role of families in preventing stunting among children.
The PKRS activity began at 08:30 a.m. and lasted for 30 minutes. The session started with an opening by the moderator, followed by the delivery of educational material through lectures and interactive discussions. Educational leaflets were used as supporting media to facilitate participants’ understanding of the information presented.
During the session, participants were informed that stunting is a condition of impaired growth in children resulting from chronic malnutrition over a prolonged period, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life. Various contributing factors were also discussed, including inadequate nutritional intake, recurrent infections, poor environmental sanitation, and limited family knowledge regarding child health and nutrition.
Participants were further educated about the impacts of stunting on physical growth, cognitive development, and overall quality of life in the future. As part of the prevention efforts, participants received information on the importance of balanced nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, appropriate complementary feeding practices, complete immunization, routine growth monitoring, and the implementation of clean and healthy living behaviors. In addition, emphasis was placed on the crucial role of families in supporting optimal child growth and development and preventing stunting.
Participants showed great enthusiasm throughout the activity. This was evident from their attentiveness during the presentation and their active participation in the discussion and question-and-answer session. Most participants were able to answer the evaluation questions correctly and explain the key points about stunting that had been discussed.
Through this PKRS activity, it is expected that families and community members will increase their awareness and knowledge regarding stunting and be able to implement preventive measures effectively. Ultimately, these efforts are expected to contribute to reducing the prevalence of stunting and improving the quality of children’s growth and development.
Author: Juliana Kilmanun
Editor : Eva Khoirunnisa Adinta (Airlangga Nursing Journalist)
