Community-Based Mung Bean Processing as a Strategy to Prevent Stunting in Serdang Bedagai Regency

Abstract

Stunting remains a significant public health problem in Indonesia, including in Serdang Bedagai Regency, where the prevalence reached 25.3% in 2022. Stunting not only affects physical growth but also has an impact on cognitive development and future economic productivity. One of the efforts to prevent stunting is by increasing the consumption of nutritious local foods such as mung beans (Vigna radiata), which are rich in protein, iron, and B-complex vitamins. However, the community’s knowledge and skills in processing mung beans are still limited. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of community empowerment through mung bean processing training as an effort to prevent stunting in Serdang Bedagai Regency. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test approach. The sample consisted of 100 mothers of children under five from five villages. The intervention included nutrition education and training in processing mung beans into various processed products. The data collected covered knowledge scores, practical skills, the frequency of mung bean consumption in children, and stunting prevalence. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in nutrition knowledge, from an average score of 60 to 82 (p<0.05). Practical skills in mung bean processing increased from 35% to 70%, and the frequency of mung bean consumption in children increased from 1.2 times to 4.1 times per week. The hypothetical prevalence of stunting decreased from 22% to 18%. Community empowerment through mung bean processing training is effective in improving knowledge, practical skills, and nutritious food consumption in children. This strategy is a sustainable approach to stunting prevention in rural areas