Stunting is a serious public health issue in Indonesia as it is closely linked to malnutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Children who experience stunting are at risk of long-term growth and developmental impairments, including reduced cognitive ability, lower productivity, and a higher likelihood of developing degenerative diseases later in life. According to the 2021 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia was 24.4%, a figure still significantly higher than the target of 14% set in the National Medium-Term Development Plan for 2024.

In 2024, a research team from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Padjadjaran published a study on the potential of the Kartu Kembang Anak (KKA)—or Child Development Card—as a discriminatory tool for early detection of stunting. The research team consists of lecturers and researchers at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology Unpad and the Center for Psychometric Studies, Faculty of Psychology Unpad, namely Ratna Jatnika, Hendriati Agustiani, Fitri Ariyanti Abidin, Fitriani Yustikasari Lubis, Kustimah Kustimah, Lucia Voni Febriani, and Syauqiyyah Syahlaa. The study involved 247 children aged 13–60 months, randomly selected from three stunting-prone districts in West Java: Jatigede (Sumedang), Ciawi (Tasikmalaya), and Sindangkasih (Ciamis). By assessing seven aspects of development—including gross motor skills, fine motor skills, intelligence, and communication—the researchers aimed to complement the existing anthropometric-based detection methods.

Discriminant analysis revealed key differences between stunted and non-stunted children across two age groups. Among children aged 13–24 months, intelligence, gross motor skills, and passive communication were the most distinguishing factors, reflecting how poor nutrition can hinder cognitive development and language comprehension. In the 25–60 month age group, gross and fine motor skills were the most significant indicators, highlighting the importance of muscular strength and movement coordination in environmental exploration and social interaction.

Through this study, the researchers hope that the KKA can be implemented in primary healthcare services and by community health workers at the village level as a practical and comprehensive tool to monitor child development. The integration of KKA into stunting prevention programs is expected to accelerate early detection and enable more targeted nutritional interventions and developmental stimulation, in line with the WHO’s holistic approach.

This research has also been published with DOI number 10.1177/22799036241231790 and has open access.