Oleh Ori Pertami Enardi, MPH
Jurusan Gizi Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang

Kesehatan seorang ibu tidak hanya menentukan kesejahteraannya sendiri, tetapi juga masa depan anak yang dikandung dan dilahirkan. Terutama dalam 1000 Hari Pertama Kehidupan mulai dari masa kehamilan hingga anak berusia dua tahun gizi yang cukup dan seimbang menjadi penentu utama tumbuh kembang yang optimal. Sayangnya, banyak ibu di Indonesia masih menghadapi tantangan gizi. Data menunjukkan bahwa hampir setengah ibu hamil mengalami anemia, dan kekurangan gizi kronis masih banyak ditemukan, terutama di daerah tertinggal. Ini dapat meningkatkan risiko bayi lahir prematur, berat badan rendah, bahkan stunting dan gangguan kognitif di kemudian hari (Yisahak et al., 2022). Gizi ibu bukan hanya urusan pribadi. Dalam banyak keluarga di Indonesia, keputusan soal makanan, pengobatan, hingga kunjungan ke fasilitas kesehatan melibatkan suami, mertua, bahkan tetangga. Maka dari itu, pendekatan yang melibatkan keluarga jauh lebih efektif daripada menyasar ibu seorang diri.

1. Suami dan Emosi Positif : Ibu hamil yang mendapat dukungan emosional dari pasangan—seperti perhatian, dukungan, dan empati—cenderung lebih tenang dan percaya diri. Hal ini berdampak langsung pada pola makan dan kesiapan menyusui (Dadi et al., 2020).
2. Bantuan Nyata dalam Keseharian : Membantu menyiapkan makanan, membelikan bahan pangan bergizi, hingga menemani kontrol kehamilan adalah bentuk dukungan instrumental yang sangat berarti. Ibu hamil yang didukung dalam hal ini terbukti lebih patuh dalam mengonsumsi suplemen dan menerapkan pola makan sehat (Mulyani et al., 2021).
3. Informasi yang Tepat : Tak jarang ibu hamil menerima nasihat dari orang sekitar—sayangnya, tidak semuanya akurat. Penting bagi keluarga untuk memastikan bahwa informasi gizi yang dibagikan sudah sesuai dengan panduan tenaga kesehatan (Kim et al., 2020).

Edukasi gizi kini tak lagi hanya dilakukan lewat kelas di puskesmas. Media sosial, video edukasi, bahkan grup WhatsApp bisa menjadi sarana penyebaran informasi gizi yang cepat dan mudah dipahami. Ada juga kartu panduan makan yang membantu ibu memilih makanan sehat, yang terbukti efektif meningkatkan variasi makanan harian (Enardi et al., 2024). Melibatkan keluarga dalam edukasi ini, seperti suami dan mertua, akan membuat informasi lebih mudah diterapkan di rumah. Sebab, percuma jika ibu tahu pentingnya makan sayur, tapi suami tetap minta lauk instan tiap hari. Pendekatan berbasis keluarga bukan hanya soal memberi tahu ibu. Ini soal mengubah cara pandang seluruh keluarga terhadap pentingnya gizi ibu dan anak. Program seperti “Suami Siaga Gizi” di Nusa Tenggara Timur, misalnya, melibatkan suami dalam pelatihan menu sehat dan kunjungan rumah hasilnya, gizi ibu membaik dan kesadaran suami meningkat (Rahman et al., 2020). Tantangan pada saat ini adalah tidak semua keluarga punya waktu, tenaga, atau kemauan untuk ikut serta. Budaya patriarki, kesibukan, atau minimnya tenaga kesehatan yang terlatih dalam pendekatan ini menjadi kendala nyata (Kim et al., 2020). Perlu dukungan dari pemerintah, termasuk pelatihan bagi kader dan pengembangan materi edukasi yang ramah keluarga dan sesuai budaya lokal.

 

Sumber Informasi :

1. Dadi, A.F., Miller, E.R., Bisetegn, T.A. and Mwanri, L., 2020. Postnatal depression and its association with adverse infant health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), p.416. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03112-2
2. Enardi, O.P., Wardani, Z., Handini, K.D., Nazliansyah, A. and Aini, S.N., 2024. Efektivitas Model Kartu Pantau Parenting Generasi Gizi (Karamunting Genzi) sebagai Alternatif Upaya Penurunan Stunting di Wilayah Kecamatan Selat Nasik Kabupaten Belitung. Laporan Penelitian. Pangkalpinang: Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang.
3. Kim, S.S., Rawat, R., Mwangi, E.M., Tesfaye, R., Abebe, Y., Baker, J. and Menon, P., 2016. Exposure to large-scale social and behavior change communication interventions is associated with improvements in infant and young child feeding practices in Ethiopia. PLOS ONE, 15(10), p.e0238365. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238365
4. Mulyani, S., Yuliana, Y. and Sari, N.P., 2021. Keterlibatan suami dalam pemenuhan gizi ibu hamil: Studi di Kabupaten Sleman, DIY. Jurnal Gizi dan Kesehatan, 13(2), pp.145–154. https://doi.org/10.20473/jgk.v13i2.2021
5. Nguyen, P.H., Menon, P., Ruel, M.T., Hajeebhoy, N., Kim, S.S. and Rawat, R., 2021. A multi-sectoral approach to improve maternal and child nutrition in South Asia: Insights from implementation research. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(S1), p.e13005. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13005
6. Pelto, G.H. and Armar-Klemesu, M., 2011. Balancing nurturance, cost and time: Complementary feeding in Accra, Ghana. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 11(S4), pp.66–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12078
7. Rahman, M.A., Rahman, M.M. and Gilmour, S., 2020. Association of family support and maternal nutrition practices in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, p.187. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02866-2
8. Yisahak, S.F., Ayalew, M. and Muche, A.A., 2022. Household decision-making power and maternal nutrition practice in rural Ethiopia: A longitudinal study. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2022, Article ID 5195263. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5195263

 

“The Key to Preventing Stunting is at Home: Family's Role in Maternal Nutrition”

 

By Ori Pertami Enardi, MPH
Nutrition Department

Pangkal Pinang, July 5, 2025

 

A mother's health determines not only her own well-being but also the future of the child she carries and gives birth to. Especially during the first 1,000 days of life, from pregnancy to the age of two, adequate and balanced nutrition is a key determinant of optimal growth and development. Unfortunately, many mothers in Indonesia still face nutritional challenges. Data shows that nearly half of pregnant women suffer from anemia, and chronic malnutrition remains prevalent, especially in underdeveloped areas. This can increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, stunting, and cognitive impairment later in life (Yisahak et al., 2022). Maternal nutrition is not just a private matter. In many Indonesian families, decisions about food, medication, and visits to health facilities involve husbands, in-laws, and even neighbors. Therefore, an approach that involves the family is far more effective than targeting the mother alone.

1. Husbands and Positive Emotions :  Pregnant women who receive emotional support from their partners—such as attention, encouragement, and empathy—tend to be calmer and more confident. This directly impacts their eating habits and readiness to breastfeed (Dadi et al., 2020).
2. Real Assistance in Daily Life : Helping prepare meals, purchasing nutritious food, and even accompanying them to prenatal checkups are all very meaningful forms of instrumental support. Pregnant women who are supported in this regard have been shown to be more compliant in taking supplements and adopting a healthy diet (Mulyani et al., 2021).
3. Accurate Information : Pregnant women often receive advice from those around them—unfortunately, not all of it is accurate. It's important for families to ensure that the nutritional information shared aligns with health professionals' guidelines (Kim et al., 2020). Nutrition education is no longer limited to classes at community health centers. Social media, educational videos, and even WhatsApp groups can be a means of disseminating nutrition information quickly and easily. There are also meal guide cards that help mothers choose healthy foods, which have been shown to be effective in increasing daily dietary variety (Enardi et al., 2024).

Involving family members in this education, such as husbands and in-laws, will make the information easier to implement at home. After all, it's pointless if a mother knows the importance of eating vegetables, but her husband still asks for instant side dishes every day. A family-based approach isn't just about informing mothers. It's about changing the entire family's perspective on the importance of maternal and child nutrition. Programs like "Suami Siaga Gizi" (Nutrition Alert Husband) in East Nusa Tenggara, for example, involve husbands in healthy menu training and home visits resulting in improved maternal nutrition and increased husband awareness (Rahman et al., 2020). The current challenge is that not all families have the time, energy, or willingness to participate. Patriarchal culture, busy schedules, or a lack of health workers trained in this approach are real obstacles (Kim et al., 2020). Government support is needed, including training for cadres and the development of family-friendly and culturally appropriate educational materials.

 

Reference

1. Dadi, A.F., Miller, E.R., Bisetegn, T.A. and Mwanri, L., 2020. Postnatal depression and its association with adverse infant health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), p.416. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03112-2
2. Enardi, O.P., Wardani, Z., Handini, K.D., Nazliansyah, A. and Aini, S.N., 2024. Efektivitas Model Kartu Pantau Parenting Generasi Gizi (Karamunting Genzi) sebagai Alternatif Upaya Penurunan Stunting di Wilayah Kecamatan Selat Nasik Kabupaten Belitung. Laporan Penelitian. Pangkalpinang: Poltekkes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang.
3. Kim, S.S., Rawat, R., Mwangi, E.M., Tesfaye, R., Abebe, Y., Baker, J. and Menon, P., 2016. Exposure to large-scale social and behavior change communication interventions is associated with improvements in infant and young child feeding practices in Ethiopia. PLOS ONE, 15(10), p.e0238365. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238365
4. Mulyani, S., Yuliana, Y. and Sari, N.P., 2021. Keterlibatan suami dalam pemenuhan gizi ibu hamil: Studi di Kabupaten Sleman, DIY. Jurnal Gizi dan Kesehatan, 13(2), pp.145–154. https://doi.org/10.20473/jgk.v13i2.2021
5. Nguyen, P.H., Menon, P., Ruel, M.T., Hajeebhoy, N., Kim, S.S. and Rawat, R., 2021. A multi-sectoral approach to improve maternal and child nutrition in South Asia: Insights from implementation research. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 17(S1), p.e13005. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13005
6. Pelto, G.H. and Armar-Klemesu, M., 2011. Balancing nurturance, cost and time: Complementary feeding in Accra, Ghana. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 11(S4), pp.66–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12078
7. Rahman, M.A., Rahman, M.M. and Gilmour, S., 2020. Association of family support and maternal nutrition practices in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, p.187. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02866-2
8. Yisahak, S.F., Ayalew, M. and Muche, A.A., 2022. Household decision-making power and maternal nutrition practice in rural Ethiopia: A longitudinal study. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, 2022, Article ID 5195263. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5195263