Currently, we are working hard to reduce stunting to create quality human resources because stunting does not only affect growth but also intelligence," acting deputy for Family Planning and Reproductive Health of BKKBN, Sukaryo Teguh Santoso, said in a webinar on Thursday.
He noted that based on the World Population Review, in 2022, the average IQ of Indonesians was around 78.49. The score made Indonesia rank 130th out of the 199 countries assessed.
"According to the intelligence scale, the average human IQ score is between 90 and 109 and above this figure is considered a high IQ score. Meanwhile, a score below 70 means there are developmental problems or learning disabilities," he said.
Hence, he said, if the average IQ of Indonesians is 78.49, then it means that this figure is far below the average IQ score, and this will be a challenge for Indonesia in the future.
To this end, Santoso affirmed that the stunting reduction acceleration program, which is carried out by involving various parties, is a form of the government's commitment to preparing excellent and competitive human resources.
"The intervention efforts, both specific and sensitive, improving nutritional quality, and other environmental factors are very influential," he emphasized.
He also explained that chronic malnutrition in the first one thousand days of life can cause children to be at risk of failing to grow, develop, and be healthy.
Santoso pointed out that based on the 2022 Indonesian Nutritional Status Survey (SSGI), the stunting prevalence in Indonesia stood at 21.6 percent.
He emphasized the importance of nutrition literacy for families in the first one thousand days of life because in that period, 80 percent of brain cell growth occurs.
"If we fail to meet the needs of under-five children from during conception up to when they are two years old, then the potential for failure to grow, failure to develop, and failure to be healthy can cause failure to thrive in under-five children," he said. Related news: Health Ministry launches Healthy Children Movement to tackle stunting
Related news: Draft local regulations on stunting reduction: KPAI to regions
Translator: Lintang Budiyanti, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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