Health cadres' experiences in detecting and preventing childhood stunting in Indonesia: a qualitative study.

Background: Stunting in children is still a public health problem in Indonesia and concerns the Indonesian government. It can have both immediate and lasting impacts on human capital development and the future productivity of those affected individuals as they mature. Therefore, healthcare professionals and health cadres must prioritize detecting and preventing stunting in childhood within Indonesia's healthcare context.

Purpose: This study aims to understand and describe the experiences of health cadres in detecting and preventing stunting in childhood.

Methods: A qualitative approach was used. From August to September 2023, 15 health cadres were interviewed individually, semi-structured, and in-depth. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Four theme clusters emerged from the analysis: (1) challenges in detecting stunting in childhood, (2) effective communication with pregnant women, husbands and their families, (3) the need to increase knowledge in detecting and preventing stunting, (4) role and responsibility as health cadres in preventing stunting.

Conclusion: The findings of this study provide valid primary data that can enhance the knowledge and skills of health cadres in detecting and preventing stunting in children. Training is necessary to improve volunteers' basic knowledge and communication skills, supporting early awareness and family engagement in stunting prevention among children in Indonesia.