Depok, January 28, 2026 — The Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI), hosted the Research Division Working Meeting of the Stunting Reduction Acceleration Team (TPP) under the Regional Development Planning Agency (BP2D) of the West Java Provincial Government on Monday (1/26). The event was attended by representatives from universities, researchers, and stakeholders from various institutions, including Universitas Indonesia, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad), and BP2D West Java.
During the meeting, BP2D West Java presented research findings on the relationship between child marriage and the incidence of stunting in the province. The study revealed that child marriage is still influenced by multiple factors, including economic pressure, unplanned pregnancies, social and cultural norms, low levels of education, and limited knowledge of reproductive health.
The presentation also highlighted various risks faced by both mothers and children as a result of child marriage, including physical, psychological, and socio-economic impacts. Limited physical readiness of young mothers, insufficient parenting capacity, and household economic vulnerability were identified as factors that may increase the risk of stunting. In addition, misconceptions persist within communities, where stunting is sometimes perceived as a family disgrace or an irreversible condition.
In the academic session, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) presented the development of microbiome-based nutritional interventions through probiotic supplementary foods in jelly form, currently being piloted in Sumedang Regency. Universitas Padjadjaran shared research on the long-term impacts of stunting during productive age, as well as genomic research initiatives to better understand biological factors contributing to nutritional issues. Meanwhile, Universitas Indonesia, through FPH UI, presented various research and community engagement initiatives related to stunting, including student-based learning programs in high-risk areas and community nutrition literacy programs.
Through the discussions, participants formulated several key recommendations, including strengthening economic and educational policies to prevent child marriage, enhancing reproductive health education, and reinforcing cross-sector collaboration in stunting reduction programs in West Java. These recommendations are expected to inform evidence-based regional development planning.
This working meeting reaffirmed FPH UI’s role as a strategic partner of the regional government in advancing public health research. The synergy between academia, government, and stakeholders is expected to accelerate stunting reduction efforts and improve the overall health and well-being of communities in West Java Province. (AM0R)