Nutrition Programs and Health Policies for Stunting Prevention in Indonesia: Systematic Review

Abstract

Stunting remains a major public health concern in Indonesia, with a national prevalence of 21.5% in 2023, exceeding the global target of 14%. Significant disparities exist, with prevalence reaching 39.4% in Central Papua, 37.9% in East Nusa Tenggara, and 37.3% in Highland Papua, compared to only 7.2% in Bali. This narrative literature review, conducted under PRISMA principles, searched PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2020 and 2025 using the keywords “stunting,” “nutrition policy,” and “Indonesia.” From 6,410 records, 10 studies met the inclusion criteria. Three dominant themes emerged: (1) regional policies and cross-sectoral coordination, where East Lombok reduced stunting from 43.5% (2018) to 18.1% (2021), while Asmat experienced an increase from 38.1% (2021) to 54.5% (2022) due to weak implementation; (2) health sector–driven interventions remain central, yet multisectoral strategies that integrate sanitation, education, and community empowerment are more effective; and (3) data-driven policies using SSGI and strong community participation ensure targeted and sustainable outcomes. Despite progress, challenges persist in equity, monitoring, and scalability, particularly in eastern provinces with weaker health systems. Strengthening multisectoral collaboration, expanding evidence-based policies, and enhancing community engagement are essential to accelerate stunting reduction in Indonesia.