THE EFFECT OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL FOOD ON CHANGES IN THE HEIGHT-FOR-AGE INDEX IN STUNTED TODDLERS IN THE WORKING AREA OF THE WARUROYOM COMMUNITY CENTER, CIREBON REGENCY

Stunting, a condition where a child’s height falls below the age-standard, is a chronic
nutritional problem with long-term impacts on both physical and cognitive development.
Supplementary feeding (PMT) intervention is considered crucial to improve toddlers’
nutritional status. This study aims to analyze the effect of supplementary feeding (PMT)
on changes in the height-for-age index (H/A) among stunted toddlers in the working area
of Waruroyom Public Health Center, Cirebon Regency.
The research method used was quantitative with a quasi-experimental design and a
retrospective approach, utilizing data from the Child Growth Monitoring Card (KMS).
The study population consisted of 80 stunted toddlers at Waruroyom Public Health
Center in 2024–2025, with a sample of 44 toddlers selected using purposive sampling.
Data were collected through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements
(length/height), then analyzed using the Paired Sample t-test after normality testing.
The results showed that before the PMT intervention, the majority of toddlers (63.6%)
were categorized as severely stunted. After 90 days of supplementary feeding, significant
improvements were observed: the proportion of severely stunted toddlers decreased to
31.8%, and 13.6% of toddlers reached the normal category. Compliance with PMT
consumption was also very high, reaching 100% by the third provision. Statistical
analysis revealed a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), proving a significant effect of PMT on
the improvement of height-for-age index among stunted toddlers. This study confirms the
effectiveness of supplementary feeding as a nutritional intervention strategy to overcome
stunting.
The conclusion, supplementary feeding has proven effective as a nutritional intervention
strategy to reduce stunting in toddlers, with significant positive effects on children’s
linear growth.