Mentoring Posyandu Cadres in the Preparation of Locally Sourced Supplementary Feeding (PMT) to Prevent Stunting in Toddlers in Ranah Singkuang Village

Abstract

Background: Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that remains a serious challenge in Indonesia, including in Ranah Singkuang Village, Kampar District, which was previously designated as a stunting hotspot. The PMT program currently in place is considered suboptimal because the menu lacks variety and does not utilize the potential of local food, particularly protein-rich catfish, resulting in low food consumption among infants.Aims: This activity aimed to improve the knowledge and skills of Posyandu cadres in preparing PMT menus based on local catfish.Methods: The methods used included educational sessions and cooking demonstrations of four processed products: sempol, crispy nori, tofu balls, and catfish egg rolls.Results: Evaluation via pre- and post-tests showed a 36.40 percentage points increase in cadres’ knowledge, reflecting the effectiveness of the interactive and contextual educational approach. Outputs of the activity included publications in the mass media, video documentation on social media, and a registered publication as a medium for continuous education.Conclusion: The use of catfish as the main ingredient in PMT provedeffective in enhancing the knowledge and skills of Posyandu cadres. It is hoped that cadres will be able to educate mothers of young children independently and consistently in supporting children’s nutritional needs to achieve a stunting-free generation.