STUNFISH EXPLORATORY STUDY (STUNTING PREVENTION THROUGH FISH DIVERSIFICATION): COASTAL COMMUNITIES' EXPECTATIONS OF THE STUNFISH STRATEGY

Abstract

Exploring the STUNFISH strategy is an important integrated effort to optimize stunting prevention. The urgency of this research lies in the importance of exploring the conceptual STUNFISH strategy in improving access to quality food, which is integrated with coastal communities in utilizing local fishery products. This, in turn, can help prevent stunting. This study aims to explore community expectations of the STUNFISH (Stunting Prevention through Fish Diversification) strategy as an approach to stunting prevention based on the diversification of processed fishery products.  The research method uses a concurrent mixed method design with a triangulation strategy, in which quantitative and qualitative data are collected simultaneously. The research sample consisted of 96 respondents from the coastal communities of Jeneponto Regency, who were determined using simple random sampling based on the Lemeshow formula. The results showed that the majority of respondents, consisting of pregnant women, nursing mothers, and mothers of toddlers, responded positively (“agree” and “strongly agree”) to the ten STUNFISH strategies. The strategies with the highest level of support included diversification of nutritious fishery products, promotion of local foods, marketing campaigns, development of fish processing skills, and MSME entrepreneurship assistance. These results show positive acceptance and high expectations from the community towards the stunting prevention program based on processed fishery products. The integration of increased nutritional intake with local economic development makes STUNFISH a comprehensive and adaptive intervention model in efforts to reduce the prevalence of stunting.