Influence of Nutrition and Hygiene Education for Stunting Prevention to Support the Acceleration of SDG`s

Abstract

Background: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. Stunting and other malnutrition in the First 1,000 Days of Life not only increase the risk of inhibiting physical growth and causing children's vulnerability to disease but also inhibit cognitive development, which will affect the level of intelligence and productivity of children in the future. Providing nutrition and hygiene education to adolescent girls is one of the solutions. As a result, they can prepare sufficient nutrients for themselves and their families after getting married or pregnant and having children. Moreover, Islamic boarding schools could be the right place for them to get an education. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the effect of counseling on increasing knowledge about balanced nutrition and hygiene in female students. Methods: We used quasi-experimental research with one pretest-posttest group on one female student, while data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The study showed that the average of the pretest and posttest in nutritional knowledge was 61.56 and 64.23, respectively. These results significantly increased (2.67 points) with a p-value of 0.019. On the other hand, there was no significant increase in hygiene knowledge, with a difference of 1.7 points between the pretest and posttest groups (p = 0.132). Conclusion: In conclusion, counseling using the lecture method can improve nutritional knowledge in female students.