Critical factors in local food development policies, farming, and coping mechanisms mothers with stunting children in Jember

Abstract

Jember Regency has the potential of local food diversity that has not been optimally utilized in stunting recovery. Local institutions have also not fully contributed optimal roles in rural mothers with stunting children. The research aims to determine key policy factors for local food development, farming, and coping mechanisms in mothers with stunting children. Adequate policies, especially in utilizing cheap and easily obtain nutritious local food sources, are expected to facilitate effective stunting recovery efforts. This research method uses quantitative and qualitative approaches. Description of local food sources and their processing, demographics, and maternal behavior, is carried out through focus group discussion activities involving key stakeholders. Furthermore, modeling is carried out based on key factors or elements with interpretative structural modeling methods. The study’s findings suggest that increasing maternal knowledge of local food and nutritional content and health aspects is a crucial policy factor. Systematically these key factors need to be supported by strengthening maternal health in decision-making in the household, handling maternal health detection, maternal skills to process food, and maternal skills to choose food according to family needs. Policy implementation requires formal and informal institutional support that exists in the countryside.