The Effectiveness Of Zinc Administration In Increasing The Height Of Stunted Children In Taduasa Village

Abstract

Backgraud: Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem that significantly hampers children's linear growth and remains a major public health concern in Indonesia. It results from prolonged nutritional deficiencies and recurrent infections during early life, leading to delayed physical development and increased risk of morbidity. Zinc is one of the essential micronutrients that plays a critical role in cell division, DNA and protein synthesis, and growth hormone activity that supports children's linear growth. Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of zinc supplementation in increasing the height of stunted children in Taduasa Village. A total sample of 38 stunted children aged 3–4 years was selected using total sampling method applied a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest approach; the intervention involved giving 20 mg of zinc twice a week for 30 days. Children's height was measured before and after the intervention using a stadiometer and analyzed with a paired t-test showed an average height increase of 0.6–1 cm in the intervention group (p=0.001), while the control group showed no change. In. In conclusion, zinc supplementation proved effective in improving the linear growth of stunted children within this short intervention period and could serve as a basis for stunting reduction programs in high-prevalence areas.