Anis Kartikawati, Rudi Purwono

THE EFFECT OF THE GREAT PARENTS SCHOOL (SOTH) PROGRAM ON STUNTING

Introduction

The effect of the great parents school (soth) program on stunting. This study evaluates the Sekolah Orang Tua Hebat (SOTH) program's impact on stunting in Lamongan, Indonesia. SOTH improved child fostering understanding, complementing stunting alleviation efforts.

Abstract

Stunting is one of the major health problems faced by developing countries, particularly Indonesia. Various programs established to decrease stunting. Sekolah Orang Tua Hebat (SOTH) is new program which targets parents/caretaker on stunting alleviation. This study aims to analyze the effect of SOTH on stunting in Lamongan Regency, Indonesia. We utilize panel data analysis in village level. We find that SOTH did not affect stunting directly. On the other hand, the multiplier effect of this program could potentially increase the understanding of child fostering. Therefore, promoting this program is necessary to complement existing stunting alleviation program in Indonesia.

Review

This study addresses a highly relevant and critical public health issue, the pervasive problem of stunting in developing countries like Indonesia. The introduction of the Sekolah Orang Tua Hebat (SOTH) program as a novel, parent-focused intervention offers an interesting avenue for stunting alleviation efforts. The stated objective to analyze the effect of SOTH on stunting in Lamongan Regency using panel data analysis at the village level is methodologically sound for evaluating such a program, allowing for the observation of changes over time and potentially controlling for unobserved village-specific characteristics. The study's focus on a new program and its potential for informing policy makes it a valuable contribution to the ongoing fight against childhood malnutrition. However, the abstract presents a nuanced and somewhat contradictory set of findings that requires further elaboration. The core finding that "SOTH did not affect stunting directly" is significant and warrants robust discussion within the full paper regarding the chosen timeframe, measurement of stunting, and the underlying assumptions of direct impact. This is immediately followed by a statement that "the multiplier effect of this program could potentially increase the understanding of child fostering." The abstract needs to clarify how this "multiplier effect" was measured or inferred, and the mechanism by which increased "understanding of child fostering" translates, either directly or indirectly, into stunting reduction. Without this clarification, the leap from no direct effect to a positive indirect potential seems speculative based solely on the abstract. More detail on the specific panel data model employed, the indicators used for stunting, and the covariates included would also enhance the methodological transparency. Given the finding of no direct effect on stunting, the recommendation that "promoting this program is necessary to complement existing stunting alleviation program in Indonesia" requires stronger justification. If the program does not directly impact stunting, its value as a complement hinges entirely on the measurable impact of its "multiplier effect" on understanding and subsequent behavioral changes, which then must translate to improved child nutritional status. Future research could explicitly model these indirect pathways and mediating variables, perhaps through longer-term follow-up studies or mixed-methods approaches that combine quantitative impact evaluation with qualitative research on parental understanding and practices. A cost-effectiveness analysis would also be beneficial to assess the resource allocation for a program whose primary outcome is not directly impacted, but rather through more diffuse and indirect "multiplier effects."

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