Peer-reviewed article

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING USING THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION ON THE FULFILLMENT OF BALANCED NUTRITION FOR STUNTING PREVENTION

Rotua Suriany Simamora, Nurhidayah Amir, Lisna Nuryanti, Lenny Irmawaty Sirait, Feri Setiadi et al. · 26 Aug 2026

Abstract

Stunting remains a public health problem in Indonesia, including in Bekasi City, and is characterized by impaired child growth resulting from chronic malnutrition. Efforts to prevent stunting require not only the dissemination of nutritional information but also changes in family behavior in fulfilling children’s balanced nutritional needs. This study aims to analyze the effect of guidance and counseling using therapeutic communication on the fulfillment of balanced nutrition as an effort to prevent stunting in Bekasi City. This study employed a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental method with a a pretest–posttest design without a control group design. The research sample consisted of 156 respondents selected through proportional random sampling who met the research criteria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered before and after the guidance and counseling intervention with therapeutic communication consists of 30 questions.The research questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.875. Data analysis was conducted using normality tests and paired t-tests. The results showed an improvement in the fulfillment of balanced nutrition after the intervention. Statistical analysis produced a t-value of –2.859 with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), indicating that guidance and counseling using therapeutic communication had a significant effect on the fulfillment of balanced nutrition for stunting prevention. It can be concluded that guidance and counseling using therapeutic communication has a positive effect on the fulfillment of balanced nutrition for stunting prevention. This intervention is able to improve parents’ knowledge, skills, and practices in meeting their children’s nutritional needs, compared to the initially low baseline conditions. The therapeutic communication approach, which involves dialogue, emotional support, and personalized problem-solving, has proven effective in promoting changes in family behavior. These findings emphasize that stunting prevention requires systematic, intensive, and family-centered interventions, rather than merely providing information.