IPB Nutrition Science Professor: Early Stunting Detection by Measuring Child’s Body Length while Lying Down
Prof. Dr. Ir. Dodik Briawan, Professor of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) said that the correct understanding and accurate measurement about anthropometry are very crucial because stunting cases in toddlers are estimated by measuring child’s body length. Unlike the measurement of body weight, that is done with scale, body length has to be measured with certain equipment, with the child positioned lying down and his/her head and feet accurately marked so he/she can be measured correctly.
“Measuring a child is not an easy thing to do, because they often cry or resist. Nutrition surveillance is needed so that the smalles Posyandu, village, or Puskesmas units can independently conduct surveillance or early detection against disturbances to the child’s growth,” the Professor said during the Health Nutrition Seminar to commemorate the 54th National Health Day (HKN), Bogor (3/11).
This surveillance can be done in Posyandu through weight measurement and monitoring toddlers’ growths. Surveillance can also be done to pregnant women, because malnutritioin can happen to children born from chronically malnutritioned mothers. “With the surveillance, the children who lack growth and the mothers that lack energy can be treated earlier, by giving interventions i.e. supplemental nutrition or other interventions,” Prof. Dodik explained.
Indonesia Nutrition Expert Organization’s (Persagi) Bogor’s Branch Board of Leaders’s (DPC), as the project officer of this seminar, thinks that it is vital to teach its members fundamental practical matters in nutrition in combating stunting. “This seminar is expected to contribute to government’s program in reducing stunting. Besides that, this seminar also educates people about the importance of giving attention to critical period of stunting, which is the first 1000 days of living, which is counted from the conception to the child’s second birthday,” said Prof. Dodik, who is also the leader of Bogor Persagi DPC.
This event was attended by 150 people, 100 of which are nutrition experts from Bogor Regency and Bogor City, while the others are from general public, such as students, lecturers, and nutrition experts from Jabotabek. This seminar presented several speakers, such as Dr. Erna Nuraena (Bogor City Body of Health), Dr. Abbas Basuni Jahari, M.Sc, Dr. Ir. Dewi Permaesih, M.Kes, Dr. Agus Triwinarto, SKM, MKM and Ferina Damayanti, SGz, RD. (Ard)
