Cultural and Religious Authority in Public Health: The Role of Ulema and Traditional Leaders in Stunting Prevention in Kampar Regency, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25217/jf.v9i2.4974Keywords:
Religious Authority, Stunting Prevention, Traditional Leaders, UlemaAbstract
Stunting is a global health issue affecting approximately 22% of toddlers worldwide, with a prevalence rate of 21.6% in Indonesia (SSGI 2022), necessitating a multisectoral approach that includes the role of local actors. This study aims to explore the role of religious leaders (ulema) and traditional community leaders in stunting prevention efforts in Kampar Regency, an area facing challenges related to child malnutrition. Stunting, resulting from chronic malnutrition, not only hinders child growth but also diminishes long-term human resource quality. The study examines how these leaders, as social influencers, contribute through educational and advocacy activities. A qualitative method was chosen to gain an in depth understanding of their perspectives, experiences, and community participation dynamics, employing data collection techniques such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions involving Ulema, traditional leaders, health agency representatives, and local government officials. Data analysis reveals their key role in raising public awareness about balanced nutrition and proper parenting, primarily through religious sermons, Islamic study groups, and traditional rituals. Major challenges include insufficient program integration with the health system and the need for further training. These findings highlight the importance of structured collaboration among local leaders, the health sector, and the government to strengthen holistic stunting prevention efforts.
References
Afifa, I. (2019). Kinerja Kader dalam Pencegahan Stunting: Peran Lama Kerja sebagai Kader, Pengetahuan dan Motivasi. Jurnal Kedokteran Brawijaya, 30(4), 336. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jkb.2019.030.04.19
Agustin, L., & Rahmawati, D. (2021). Hubungan Pendapatan Keluarga dengan Kejadian Stunting. Indonesian Journal of Midwifery (IJM), 4(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.35473/ijm.v4i1.715
Aldbyani, Aamer. 2025. “Exploring Islamic Mindfulness: Cultural Practices and Their Impact on Public Health Outcomes.” Mindfulness 16 (3): 695–701. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-024-02485-5.
Ariani, M. (2020). Determinan Penyebab Kejadian Stunting Pada Balita: Tinjauan Literatur. Dinamika Kesehatan: Jurnal Kebidanan Dan Keperawatan, 11(1), 172–186. https://doi.org/10.33859/dksm.v11i1.559
Ariati, L. I. P. (2019). Faktor-Faktor Resiko Penyebab Terjadinya Stunting Pada Balita Usia 23-59 Bulan. Oksitosin : Jurnal Ilmiah Kebidanan, 6(1), 28–37. https://doi.org/10.35316/oksitosin.v6i1.341
Fitriany, Dianty Irma. 2023. “Efektivitas Program Pemberian Makanan Tambahan (PMT) Berbasis Pangan Lokal Dalam Penanggulangan Stunting Di Desa Nglarangan Kanor Bojonegoro.” Undergraduate_(S1), Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sunan Giri. https://repository.unugiri.ac.id:8443/id/eprint/3244/.
Hijrawati, Usman, AN, Syarif, S., Hadju, V., As'ad, S., & Baso, YS (2021). Use of technology for monitoring the development of nutritional status of 1000 hpk in stunting prevention in Indonesia. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S231–S234. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.10.028
Kamaruddin, Kamaruddin. 2013. “Model Penyelesaian Konflik di Lembaga Adat.” Walisongo: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan 21 (1): 39–70. https://doi.org/10.21580/ws.21.1.236.
Kementerian Kesehatan RI. (2022). Hasil Survei Status Gizi Indonesia (SSGI) 2022. Kemenkes, 1–150. Google
Kusnadi. (2023). Riau Optimis Angka Stunting Turun Jadi 14 Persen Tahun 2024. MC Prov Riau. Google
Levin, Jeff, Linda M. Chatters, dan Robert Joseph Taylor. 2011. “Theory in Religion, Aging, and Health: An Overview.” Journal of Religion and Health 50 (2): 389–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9319-x.
Levin, Jeffrey S. 1996. “How religion influences morbidity and health: Reflections on natural history, salutogenesis and host resistance.” Social Science & Medicine, XIVth International Conference on the Social Sciences and Medicine, 43 (5): 849–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(96)00150-5.
Lexy J. Moleong. (2012). Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. PT Remaja Rosdakarya. Google
Marni, Marni, dan Nita Yunianti Ratnasari. 2021. “Penyuluhan Pencegahan Risiko Stunting 1000 Hari Pertama Kehidupan pada Generasi Muda.” Indonesian Journal of Community Services 3 (2): 116–25. https://doi.org/10.30659/ijocs.3.2.116-125.
Mashuri, Afriadi Putra. (2021). Kepemimpinan dan Peranan Tokoh Adat dalam Pembangunan di Kabupaten Kampar Provinsi Riau, Jurnal Terapan Pemerintahan Minangkabau Vol. 1, No. 2, Edisi Juli – Desember 2021, pp.135-143, DOI : https://doi.org/10.33701/jtpm.v1i1.2099
Nur R, T. H., Setyowati, H. N., & Rosemary, R. (2020). Rumah Gizi ‘Aisyiyah: Komunikasi Kesehatan dengan Pendekatan Agama-Budaya. Jurnal Komunikasi Global, 9(1), 141–161. https://doi.org/10.24815/jkg.v9i1.16576
Prakoso, B. I. (2012). Hubungan Perilaku Ibu dalam Memenuhi Kebutuhan Gizi dan Tingkat Konsumsi Energi dengan Status Gizi Balita di Desa Cibeusi Kecamatan Jatinangor Kabupaten Sumedang. Fakultas Ilmu Keperawatan, 1–15. Google
Qoriati, Yani’, Alfiatul Khasanah, Ayunda Dwi Istiqomah, Iffa Rachmawati, Septina Ria Ira Erianti, Sintia Nur Aini, dan Suci Afsari Ramadani. 2024. “Promosi Kesehatan Pencegahan Stunting Pada Remaja Di Prodi Farmasi Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sunan Giri Bojonegoro.” Journal of Research Applications in Community Service 3 (2): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.32665/jarcoms.v3i2.2997.
Ratnawati, R., & Rahfiludin, M. Z. (2020). Faktor Risiko Determinan Yang Konsisten Berhubungan dengan Kejadian Stunting Pada Anak Usia 6-24 Bulan: Tinjauan Pustaka. Amerta Nutrition, 4(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v4i2.2020.85-94
Ramli, Supian, Selfi Mahat Putri, dan Fatonah Fatonah. 2017. “Peranan Lembaga Adat Dalam Melestarikan Budaya Melayu Jambi.” Titian: Jurnal Ilmu Humaniora 1 (2): 191–203. https://doi.org/10.22437/titian.v1i2.4227
Ratnawati, R., & Rahfiludin, M. Z. (2020). Faktor Risiko Determinan Yang Konsisten Berhubungan dengan Kejadian Stunting Pada Anak Usia 6-24 Bulan: Tinjauan Pustaka. Amerta Nutrition, 4(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v4i2.2020.85-94
Saputri, R. A., & Tumangger, J. (2019). Hulu-hilir Penanggulangan Stunting di Indonesia. Journal of Political Issues, 1(1), 1–9. Google
Sugiyono. (2011). Educational Research Methods Quantitative, Qualitative and R&D Approaches. Alphabet. Google
Sukardi, S. (2003). Metodologi Penelitian Pendidikan: Kompetensi dan Praktiknya (Edisi Revisi), Bumi Aksara. Google
Suwarta, Nyoman, Dwi Astutiek, Edi Dwi Riyanto, Ahmad Nurefendi Fradana, Joko Susilo, dan Yulia Mega Puspita. 2023. “Understanding the Role of the Environmental Arena and Community Social Structure in Stunting Prevention Education:” Academia Open 8 (2). https://doi.org/10.21070/acopen.8.2023.8667.
World Health Assembly, 55. (2002). Infant and young child nutrition: global strategy on infant and young child feeding: report by the Secretariat. World Health Assembly fifty-fifth session, provisional agenda item 13.10. Google
Trihono, Atmarita, Tjandrarini, D. H., Irawati, A., Utami, N. H., Tejayanti, T., & Nurlinawati, I. (2015). Pendek (Stunting) Masalah Dan Solusinya Di Indonesia,. In Etika Jurnalisme Pada Koran Kuning : Sebuah Studi Mengenai Koran Lampu Hijau (Vol. 16, Issue 2). Google
World Health Assembly, 55. (2002). Infant and young child nutrition: global strategy on infant and young child feeding: report by the Secretariat. World Health Assembly fifty-fifth session, provisi. Google
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Nur Kholis, Dewi Septiana, Muhammad Yusuf, Muhammad Nufus Rahmatullah

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.