Cultural Communication Strategies of Behavioral Changes in Accelerating of Stunting Prevention: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children under five years of age (toddlers) due to chronic malnutrition and infection. Stunting has an impact on the level of intelligence, susceptibility to disease, reduces productivity, increases poverty and inequality. This condition is closely related to the culture of the community. Therefore, a cultural communication strategy is needed as an intervention to change maternal behavior and prevent stunting. Objective: This study aims to analyze articles related to cultural communication strategies in efforts to prevent stunting in children. Method: The design used is the literature review, articles are collected using search engines such as ProQuest, BMC Public Health, Google Scholar and Plos One. Criteria article used was published in 2011-2020. Results: Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children under five years of age as a result of chronic malnutrition so that the child is too short for his age. Malnutrition occurs since the baby is in the womb and in the early days after the baby is born. The factors that cause stunting in children are family factors and family environment, inadequate food, breastfeeding and infection. These factors are closely related to the local culture. Therefore, cultural communication strategies are considered effective in changing mother's behavior and preventing stunting in children. Conclusion: Cultural communication can influence behavior change in mothers to prevent stunting in children