The First 1000 Days of Birth (HPK) Education Movement: Efforts to Increase Public Understanding through Home Visits in Cimahpar Subdistrict, North Bogor

Figure Ilustration AI

FORMOSA NEWS - Bogor - Home Visit Education Boosts Community Understanding of First 1,000 Days by 62 Percent in Bogor. Bogor - Education on the First 1,000 Days of Life Through Home Visits Increases Community Understanding by 62 Percent. The community service project conducted by Louise Kartika Indah, Melia Ruth Dolok Saribu, Angel Yolandia Panjaitan, Billy Vernando, Fachrul Destrian, Anastacia Justine, Lasria Siahaan, and Ida Bagus Eka Utama Wija from the Indonesian Christian University in a community service article published in the Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5, No. 3, 2026, highlights that public understanding increased by an average of 62 percent following door-to-door home visits. The research involved a multidisciplinary team from Universitas Kristen Indonesia, including Melia Ruth Dolok Saribu, Angel Yolandia Panjaitan, Billy Vernando, Fachrul Destrian, Anastacia Justine, Lasria Siahaan, and pediatric specialist Ida Bagus Eka Utama Wija. Their findings underscore the urgency of improving public understanding during the critical early-life window that shapes long-term health and human development.

Why the First 1,000 Days Matter

The First 1,000 Days of Life spanning pregnancy to a child’s second birthday represent a crucial period for brain development, physical growth, and long-term health outcomes. Poor nutrition during this phase is strongly linked to stunting, a condition that affects cognitive ability, educational attainment, and future productivity. In Indonesia, stunting remains a persistent public health challenge. Despite national programs promoting maternal and child nutrition, gaps in public knowledge and awareness continue to limit the effectiveness of these interventions.

Field observations in Cimahpar revealed several key issues:

• Limited understanding of the 1000 HPK concept.
• Inadequate nutrition practices among pregnant women.
• Misconceptions about exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
• Low participation in community health services such as Posyandu.

These challenges highlight the need for more personalized and accessible health education strategies.

Simple, Direct, and Personal: The Home Visit Approach
To address these gaps, the UKI research team implemented a door-to-door education program targeting 10 families with pregnant women or young children. The intervention combined direct counseling, interactive discussions, and simple educational materials such as leaflets.

The educational sessions covered:

• The importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy
• Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
• Proper timing and methods for complementary feeding (MP-ASI)
• Practical strategies for stunting prevention

The program used a participatory, interpersonal communication approach. Instead of one-way lectures, families engaged in discussions, asked questions, and received tailored explanations based on their daily realities. To measure impact, researchers conducted pre- and post-intervention assessments, comparing participants’ knowledge before and after the home visits.

Key Findings: Knowledge Gains Across All Indicators
The results show consistent improvements in all areas of knowledge:

• Understanding of the 1000 HPK concept: +70%.
• Knowledge of complementary feeding (MP-ASI): +70%.
• Maternal nutrition awareness: +60%.
• Stunting prevention knowledge: +60%.
• Exclusive breastfeeding understanding: +50%.

The overall average increase reached 62 percent, indicating a strong positive impact of the intervention. Community members also demonstrated high enthusiasm and active participation throughout the program. The highest gains were observed in basic concepts and feeding practices, suggesting that lack of foundational knowledge remains a key barrier in many communities. Meanwhile, the smaller increase in exclusive breastfeeding knowledge reflects that some baseline awareness already existed prior to the intervention.

Real-World Impact: From Knowledge to Behavior Change
Improving knowledge is a critical first step toward lasting behavioral change. When families understand the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood, they are more likely to adopt healthier practices.

The implications extend beyond individual households:

• Public health: Reduced risk of stunting and chronic disease.
• Education: Improved cognitive development in children.
• Economy: Stronger human capital and workforce productivity.
• Policy: Evidence for scaling community-based health education programs.

Global research consistently shows that interventions during the First 1,000 Days have lifelong benefits, influencing health, education, and economic outcomes.

Author Profile

Louise Kartika Indah, dr., M.Kes. is a public health expert at the Faculty of Medicine, Indonesian Christian University , specializing in maternal and child health and community health interventions.

She is joined by Melia Ruth Dolok Saribu, Angel Yolandia Panjaitan, Billy Vernando, Fachrul Destrian, Anastacia Justine, and Lasria Siahaan, medical students at Indonesian Christian University  who focus on community health outreach.

Ida Bagus Eka Utama Wija, dr., Sp.A. is a pediatrician and lecturer at Indonesian Christian University , with expertise in child health and development.

Sources
Indah, L. K., Saribu, M. R. D., Panjaitan, A. Y., Vernando, B., Destrian, F., Justine, A., Siahaan, L., & Wija, I. B. E. U. (2026). The First 1000 Days of Birth (HPK) Education Movement: Efforts to Increase Public Understanding through Home Visits in Cimahpar Subdistrict, North Bogor. Asian Journal of Community Services (AJCS), Vol. 5 No. 4, 175–184.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v5i4.12
URL: https://journalajcs.my.id/index.php/ajcs