The study highlights the importance of early stimulation in improving gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language ability, and social development among stunted children. Researchers found that children who received adequate stimulation from their parents were 4.593 times more likely to achieve age-appropriate development compared to children who lacked stimulation.
The research was carried out in Puton Village, Diwek District, Jombang Regency, involving stunted children aged 0–72 months. The findings are considered important because stunting is not only associated with shorter height, but also with long-term effects on brain development, learning ability, and future productivity.
According to the researchers, the early years of life are a critical period for brain development. Poor nutrition during pregnancy and infancy can disrupt the formation of brain connections and negatively affect a child’s mental and physical growth.
“Brain development occurs very rapidly from birth through early childhood. Children need environmental support, including stimulation from parents, to optimize motor, language, and social functions,” the researchers explained in the publication.
Stunting remains a major public health challenge in Indonesia. Data from the Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI) showed that the national stunting rate decreased from 24.4 percent in 2021 to 21.6 percent in 2022. However, the prevalence still exceeds the threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Jombang Regency alone, the stunting rate among toddlers reached 22.1 percent in 2022. This situation has encouraged health researchers and policymakers to focus not only on nutritional improvement, but also on developmental stimulation programs for children.
The study used an observational analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. All stunted toddlers in Puton Village were included as research participants. Child development was assessed using the Pre-Screening Development Questionnaire (KPSP), while the relationship between stimulation and child development was analyzed using the Spearman Rank statistical test.
The results showed that approximately 60 percent of mothers provided developmental stimulation to their children. These activities included playing, talking to children, encouraging movement, training fine motor activities, and building daily social interaction.
Meanwhile, around 40 percent of children in the study demonstrated development appropriate for their age. Researchers identified a significant relationship between developmental stimulation and improvements in gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language, socialization, and independence.
The statistical analysis produced a significance value of 0.044, which is below the standard threshold of 0.05. This indicates that the relationship between stimulation and child development was statistically significant.
The study also found that mothers’ educational background influenced the quality of stimulation provided to children. Most respondents had completed secondary education, and more than half of the mothers were not formally employed outside the home.
According to the researchers, maternal education plays an important role in understanding child growth and development. Many mothers gained information about child stimulation through community health posts (Posyandu), local health centers (Puskesmas), and educational programs conducted by village health workers.
Stunted children are known to face a higher risk of cognitive, motor, and language delays. In the long term, these developmental challenges can affect academic achievement, work productivity, and even reproductive health later in life.
For this reason, the researchers emphasized that developmental stimulation should not be viewed as an optional activity, but as an essential part of efforts to reduce the long-term impact of stunting.
“Children can develop through simple daily activities guided by parents,” the researchers noted.
Developmental stimulation does not necessarily require expensive tools or programs. Parents can support their children by talking, singing, drawing, stacking blocks, reading stories, or encouraging interactive play every day. These simple activities help strengthen brain connections during critical stages of growth.
The study also highlighted the important role of Posyandu services in monitoring child development regularly. Through routine monitoring, developmental delays can be detected earlier and appropriate interventions can be implemented more quickly.
In addition, the researchers encouraged stronger collaboration among healthcare workers, village health cadres, local governments, and families in educating parents about child development stimulation.
This approach is considered especially important in areas with high stunting prevalence. Family-based intervention programs are seen as more effective because parents are the closest and most influential figures in a child’s daily life.
The findings reinforce the growing understanding that addressing stunting requires more than nutritional intervention alone. Equal attention must also be given to psychosocial support and developmental stimulation to ensure children can achieve their full potential.
Author Profile
Mamik Ratnawati, S.Kep., Ns. is a lecturer and healthcare academic from the Nursing Professional Study Program at STIKES Pemkab Jombang, with expertise in pediatric nursing and child development.
The study was also conducted by:
- Ririn Probowati, Diploma III Nursing Program, STIKES Pemkab Jombang
- Monika Sawitri, Bachelor of Nursing Program, STIKES Pemkab Jombang
Research Source
Article title: Developmental Stimulation of Gross Motor Skills, Fine Motor Skills, Socialization, and Language in Stunted Children
Journal: Asian Journal of Healthcare Analytics, Vol. 5 No. 1, 2026
Authors: Mamik Ratnawati, Ririn Probowati, Monika Sawitri
0 Komentar