Madegondo, Sukoharjo, 12 November 2024 — Universitas Sugeng Hartono proactively conducted a socialization program to introduce the innovative chatbot application “Stunting Care” to Posyandu cadres in Madegondo Village as part of the village-level stunting prevention efforts.

Key figures actively participated in the event, including the Head of Madegondo Village, the Village Midwife, the Chairperson of the PKK Movement Team in Grogol Subdistrict, the Coordinator of Melati Posyandu Cadres in Madegondo, and around 65 cadres from Melati Posyandu groups 1 to 10.

Held at the Madegondo Village Hall in Grogol Subdistrict on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the event saw enthusiastic participation from attendees eager to learn about this technology-driven approach to combat stunting.

This event was part of a series of activities implementing the Community Service Grant through the Beginner Community Empowerment Program (PMP), funded by the Directorate of Research and Community Service Technology (DRTPM) under the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia for Fiscal Year 2024.

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Posyandu cadres in interpersonal communication techniques and AI-based counseling media as a strategic effort to prevent stunting.

The implementation team is led by Mrs. Etik Sulistyorini, SST., M.Kes, supported by team members Mrs. Fitria Hayu Palupi, SST., M.Kes, and Mgr. Inz Nimas Ratnasari, S.Kom, along with two Universitas Sugeng Hartono students: Lefiyana from the Nutrition Study Program and Maulana Ilham from the Informatics Study Program.

The “Stunting Care” chatbot application represents a collaboration between health and technology experts to provide valuable information on child health, particularly in stunting prevention efforts.

This chatbot utilizes artificial intelligence to identify users’ questions, deliver relevant answers, and continuously adapt to improve future responses.

By integrating AI and mobile technology, the chatbot functions not only as an information tool but also as a personalized interaction assistant for users—especially Posyandu cadres—helping them deliver accurate and comprehensive information to the community.

Innovative Features of the Stunting Care Chatbot in Child Health Education

The “Stunting Care” chatbot offers features designed to assist Posyandu cadres in delivering education on child nutrition, healthy eating habits, and the importance of stunting prevention.

This technology is developed for use on mobile devices running Android and iOS, as well as a web version to maximize accessibility in various situations.

Moreover, the application connects to health management systems, enabling the collected data to be analyzed by local health agencies to develop data-driven stunting prevention strategies.

The socialization activity began with a speech from the Head of Madegondo Village, who expressed full support for the development of technology-based applications aimed at improving community health.

Next, the community service team leader, Mrs. Etik Sulistyorini, explained that the chatbot was developed to assist Posyandu cadres in providing better information services to the community and to serve as an innovative solution for addressing various public health issues at the village level.

In the next session, Mrs. Nimas Ratnasari—one of the app’s developers—introduced the key features of the “Stunting Care” chatbot. She provided the Posyandu cadres with in-depth guidance on how to input questions, understand the chatbot’s responses, and how the system uses continuous learning to deliver more accurate answers over time.

The team also demonstrated how the chatbot customizes its replies based on the type of question asked, such as information on child nutrition, methods to detect stunting risk, and preventive guidelines that parents can follow.

App Demonstration Enhances Posyandu Cadres’ Practical Experience

During the demonstration session, participants directly tried the chatbot application under the guidance of the development team.

Each Posyandu cadre actively tested the “Stunting Care” chatbot by using their smartphones during the simulation session. They submitted questions on common child health concerns—such as ways to increase a child’s weight, age-appropriate feeding patterns for infants, and daily nutritional guidelines.

The chatbot responded to each question with relevant, informative answers, accompanied by preventive action suggestions that caregivers can implement.

During the practical session, Posyandu cadres shared feedback and their experiences using the “Stunting Care” chatbot.

Several Posyandu cadres praised the application, emphasizing how it streamlines the delivery of fast, accurate health information to the community. They also acknowledged that the app not only saves time but also enhances public trust, thanks to its data-driven content and regularly updated features.

Several participants also proposed adding new features to the chatbot, such as reminders for supplementary feeding schedules and short articles on child nutrition. In response, the development team actively welcomed the feedback and committed to continuously enhancing the application to better meet the practical needs of Posyandu cadres in the field.

Madegondo Village Leads the Way in Using Health Technology to Prevent Stunting

Through this initiative, Universitas Sugeng Hartono hopes that the “Stunting Care” application will strengthen stunting prevention efforts at the village level by enhancing the capacity of Posyandu cadres to provide technology-based counseling. The Head of Madegondo Village expressed his hope that this application could serve as an innovative model for other villages in supporting the national stunting reduction program. He also praised Universitas Sugeng Hartono for its initiative and contribution to improving public health.

USH to Empower Posyandu Cadres Through Continued Training and Support

As the next step, Universitas Sugeng Hartono will evaluate the implementation of the Stunting Care chatbot and offer continuous support to Posyandu cadres to ensure its effective use. The university also plans to conduct advanced training sessions tailored to the needs of the cadres. Through these initiatives, Posyandu cadres are expected to enhance their digital literacy, optimize health education efforts, and become key community partners in the mission to eliminate stunting and nurture a healthier generation.

With the introduction of “Stunting Care,” villages in Sukoharjo Regency, especially Madegondo, are expected to become pioneers in applying health technology for rural communities. This innovation aims to educate the public about the importance of child health and nutrition while helping to realize a healthy, stunting-free younger generation ready to compete in the future.