Community Health Volunteer Up skilling Increase Community-Based Stunting Early Detection Knowledge

Stunting becomes a public health concern and is still commonly found in the world. The number of new cases of stunting increases every year as it can be caused by poor nutritional status, lack of knowledge, barriers to access to health services, inability to meet nutritional needs. This steady phenomenon can lead to a decrease several quality aspects of future generation. Community-based activities are an alternative solution in stunting management. Health cadres as part of the community and an extension of health workers are expected to be able to carry out early detection and treatment of stunting in toddlers. Capacity building for health cadres is a necessity through regular coaching. This study aims to identify the effect of up-skilling health cadres on knowledge of community-based stunting early detection. The research design used a quasi-experimental type of pre and post-test with a control group. The sample was 33 health cadres for each intervention and control group through purposive sampling technique. The research was conducted in the work area of the Undaan and Dawe Primary Health Centers, Kudus Regency in October-November 2021. The research instrument used was a questionnaire on health cadres' knowledge towards assessment and management of malnutrition in children and a knowledge scale about inpatient management of severely malnourished children with a reliability value of = 0.83. Health cadres receive coaching in four sessions over two days with a duration of 45-60 minutes/session in the form of interactive lectures and demonstrations. Data analysis using Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney test. Up skilling of health cadres increased knowledge of community-based early detection of stunting with p-value = 0.001 (p <0.05). Incorporating various methods in training is suggested in improving health cadres’ knowledge in finding new cases of stunting in the community while adjointly integrating it with child health service programs in primary health care facilities.