Dr Tin Herawati: Strengthen Family Functions to Prevent and Treat Stunting
The family is the smallest social institution in society. However, the family plays a very large role in the formation of quality human resources (HR). The family is the first and foremost institution in educating, protecting and caring for their children in accordance with family values, social norms and adhered to religion so as to produce quality generations.
“This quality generation will become the future leaders of the nation and the holders of the wheels of development in the future. Therefore, the family is the pillar and foundation of the nation. It will be worrying if the pillars and foundation of the family are not strong, then the country will not have a strong foundation alias porous," said Dr Tin Herawati, Head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK), Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema) IPB University.
Dr Tin said, to produce quality generations, the family must carry out its functions properly. Government Regulation (PP) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 87 of 2014 divides the functions of the family into eight functions namely the functions of religion, socio-culture, love, protection, reproduction, socialization and education, economy, and environmental development.
"If the family functions well, it will be able to meet material needs, support the growth and development of its members. Therefore, family functions that run well not only affect the success and happiness of the family but also affect the formation of quality human resources," she said.
According to him, currently Indonesia is still facing problems in the formation of quality human resources which is shown by the high prevalence of stunting in Indonesia. The impact caused by stunting is a decreased level of intelligence, more susceptible to disease and reduced productivity. In the long run, stunting has an impact on economic growth, increasing poverty and inequality.
"Family is a very important part in contributing to the problem of stunting. In families with stunted children, it shows that family functions are not going well," she stressed again.
Dr Tin explained that family socio-economic factors were closely related to stunting. Families with low incomes experience difficulties in providing nutritious food for children. These conditions indicate that the economic function is not running well which has an impact on the minimum protection function for children.
Risk factors for stunting are related to the number of children and birth spacing. Families with poor economic conditions and have many children will find it difficult to meet their needs. Birth spacing affects the parenting style of parents towards their children.
“Too many children and too close spacing of births can be prevented if the reproductive function in the family goes well. The family should function as a regulator of healthy and planned offspring reproduction so that the children born become quality next generations," she said.
Another factor that poses a risk of stunting is the low quality of environmental health. Families with unhealthy environments, poor water and sanitation sources have a greater chance of their children experiencing stunting. The low quality of environmental health indicates that the implementation of the environmental management function by the family is not optimal, which means that the family has less role in maintaining and keeping the environment clean.
"Based on the various factors that cause stunting, the main key in preventing stunting is strengthening the implementation of family functions. The key to successful implementation of family functions is in the hands of parents as family controllers," explained Dr Tin.
She emphasized that each family must carry out the functions of the family properly and must make the basis and guidance for each family in order to create a quality family that is free of stunting.
"On the occasion of the 30th National Family Day, we are all reminded of the importance of family functions. The family is indeed the smallest unit in society but the family has a big role in the success of preventing and treating stunting. Therefore, strengthening family function is very important to be free from stunting," she concluded. (*/Rz) (IAAS/AMR).
