Anita Dyah Listyarini, Oktia Woro Kasmini Handayani, Ari Yuniastuti, Eko Farida

Development of a Smartphone Application “Family Care Stunting” to Increase the Independence of Families with Stunting Toddlers and Comorbid Diseases

Introduction

Development of a smartphone application “family care stunting” to increase the independence of families with stunting toddlers and comorbid diseases. The 'Family Care Stunting' app empowers families to independently manage toddlers with stunting and comorbidities. This app significantly boosts family health independence.

Abstract

Stunting is a complex public health problem in Indonesia. The incidence of stunting in Kudus City was 3,601 toddlers (5.85%), with the highest prevalence in Dawe District (13.32%), Undaan District (11.13%), Gebog District (10.66%), and 238 children under five, accompanied by comorbidities such as acute respiratory tract infections (ARI), diarrhea, tuberculosis (TB), and worms. One of the determining factors for success in combating stunting is family independence in managing the health of toddlers. However, family independence is constrained by limited access to information, lack of balanced nutrition education, sanitation, personal hygiene, symptoms of comorbidities, monitoring and development of toddlers not routinely, non-compliance with immunization and treatment. Smartphone applications can be used to overcome these obstacles. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the “Family Care Stunting” smartphone application in improving the health independence of families of stunted toddlers with comorbidities. This study used a research and development design, with 201 respondents from families of stunted toddlers who had comorbidities. Effectiveness was analyzed using the Wilcoxon nonparametric differential test to compare the level of family health independence before and after the intervention. There was a significant increase in the level of family health independence after the intervention of the “Family Care Stunting” smartphone application (p-value = 0.000). This application has the potential to be an innovative tool that supports families to play an active role in child health management, thereby contributing to more comprehensive stunting prevention and handling efforts.

Review

This study addresses a critical public health challenge in Indonesia: childhood stunting, particularly when complicated by comorbid diseases. The authors correctly identify that family independence in managing toddler health is a key determinant for success, yet it is often hampered by limited access to information, education, and consistent monitoring. The proposed solution, a smartphone application titled “Family Care Stunting,” is a highly relevant and timely intervention given the widespread adoption of mobile technology. The premise of leveraging an accessible digital tool to empower families and overcome significant information barriers makes this a promising endeavor with the potential for substantial impact on a complex, multifaceted problem. The research employed a robust research and development design, involving a substantial sample size of 201 families with stunted toddlers and comorbidities, which strengthens the validity of the findings. The application's effectiveness was rigorously evaluated using the Wilcoxon nonparametric differential test, a suitable statistical method for comparing paired observations before and after an intervention. The reported finding of a highly significant increase in family health independence (p-value = 0.000) after the "Family Care Stunting" intervention provides compelling evidence for its immediate efficacy. This result suggests that the application successfully met its primary objective of enhancing families' capacity to manage the health of their children, thereby offering a practical and scalable approach to combatting stunting and its associated health issues. While the abstract presents a strong case for the application's effectiveness, a more detailed understanding of its specific features and content would enhance the review, allowing for a clearer appreciation of *how* it contributes to increased family independence. Furthermore, the abstract does not specify the duration of the intervention or any follow-up period, making it difficult to ascertain the long-term sustainability and impact of the observed improvements. Future research could benefit from longitudinal studies to assess sustained changes in family health independence and child health outcomes, alongside qualitative research to explore user experiences and barriers to adoption. Nonetheless, this study presents a valuable and innovative tool with considerable potential to support comprehensive stunting prevention and management efforts, serving as a model for technology-driven public health interventions in similar contexts.

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