Stigma, Health Literacy, and Treatment-Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Stunting Toddlers in Rural Areas
Abstract
Stunting is a health problem that threatens human quality and the competitiveness of the nation. This condition has an impact on the physical, mental, and cognitive development of toddlers and increases the risk of disease. There are still many toddlers who are diagnosed with stunting but do not receive treatment. Treatment-seeking behavior is influenced by knowledge, attitudes, stigma, and community beliefs. This research aims to analyze the relationship between stigma and health literacy with treatment-seeking behavior. The research design uses a correlational analytical approach that is cross-sectional. The independent variables are stigma and health literacy, while the dependent variable is treatment-seeking behavior. This research was conducted in the Keling II Community Health Center Working Area, Jepara Regency, in January 2025. The research sample was 100 caregivers of stunted toddlers and was taken using techniques of purposive sampling. The research instrument includes a stigma questionnaire using (SSCI-8), a questionnaire on health literacy using (HLS-EU-Q16), and a questionnaire on treatment-seeking behavior using (GHSQ). Data analysis using chi-square tests. The results of this study show that there is a significant relationship between stigma (p=0.002; r=0.394) and health literacy (p=0.000; r=0.448) with treatment-seeking behavior in caregivers of stunted toddlers. Stigma and health literacy play a role in shaping behavior in seeking health assistance, especially among caregivers of toddlers with stunting in rural areas. There needs to be intervention to reduce negative stigma and increase health literacy so that caregivers of stunted toddlers have the awareness to carry out screening and treat stunting in health service facilities.
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Wahyuni, F. C., Karomah, U., Basrowi, R. W., Sitorus, N. L., & Lestari, L. A. (2023). The Relationship between Nutrition Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge with the Incidence of Stunting: A Scoping Review. In Amerta Nutrition (Vol. 7, Issue 3SP, pp. 71–85). Airlangga University Faculty of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v7i3SP.2023.71-85
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Widiastuti, A., Ermawati Ulkhasanah, M., & Nasrul Sani, F. (2022). Stigma in stunting children is at risk for mental health. http://journal.stikeskendal.ac.id/index.php/Keperawatan
Wulandari, S., Ramadhani, P. R., & Hilmi, L. I. (2024). Literature Review: Factors, Barriers, and Accessibility Related to Health Seeking Behavior in HIV Patients. Independent Healthy Journal, 19(1), 1–14. https://jurnal.poltekkespadang.ac.id/ojs/index.php/jsm/issue/archive
Amalia, T., Annis Nauli, F., & Novayelinda. (2022). The Relationship Between Mental Health Literacy Levels in the Community and Behavior in Seeking Help. Wahana Pendidikan Scientific Journal, December, 8(24), 318–327. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7486552
Anwar, S., Winarti, E., Bachelor of Public Health, P., Kadiri, U., Selomangleng No, J., Kediri, K., Timur, J., & Health Sciences, F. (2022). Systematic review of risk factors, causes, and impact of stunting in children (systematic review of risk factors, causes, and impact of stunting in children). Journal of Health Sciences, 11(1).
Apriluana, G., & Fikawati, S. (2018). Analysis of Risk Factors for Stunting Incidents in Toddlers (0-59 Months) in Developing Countries and Southeast Asia. Health Research and Development Media, 28(4), 247–256. https://doi.org/10.22435/mpk.v28i4.472
Aryati, D., Irianto, S. E., & Karyus, A. (2023). Analysis of factors influencing the incidence of stunting among toddlers in North Lampung Regency. JPKM: Journal of Public Health Professionals, 4(2), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.47575/jpkm.v4i2.492
Aurima, J., Susaldi, S., Agustina, N., Masturoh, A., Rahmawati, R., & Tresiana Monika Madhe, M. (2021). Factors Associated with the Incident of Stunting in Toddlers in Indonesia. Open Access Jakarta Journal of Health Sciences, 1(2), 43–48. https://doi.org/10.53801/oajjhs.v1i3.23
Not, M., Limbu, R., & Ndoen, E. (2020). Overview of tuberculosis (tb) treatment searching behavior in the community in the working area of the uitao health center, semau district, kupang district. Public Health Media, 2(3), 8–16. https://doi.org/10.35508/mkm
Dai, N. F. (2020). Public Stigma Against the Covid-19 Pandemic. https://ojs.literacyinstitute.org/index.php/prosiding-covid19
Ministry of Health, Central Java. (2023). Central Java Health Profile in 2023.
Department of Health District. Jepara. (2022). Jepara District Health Profile 2022-1_240710_071522.
Endartiwi, S. S. (2021). Factors That Influence The Incidence Of Stunting In Sendangrejo, Minggir, Sleman Yogyakarta. Public Health Journal, 12(1). https://journal.fkm-untika.ac.id/index.php/phj
Erika Irmawati Putri, Nanik Rahmawati, & Rahma Syafitri. (2023). The Impact of Community Stigma on Families Who Don't Have Children in Sungai Besar Village, Lingga Regency. Research Journal of the Social Sciences, Politics and Humanities Group, 2(2), 233–248. https://doi.org/10.55606/jurrish.v2i2.1732
Febriani, W. M. (2019). Description of Treatment Seeking Behavior in Students of the Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University. Jurnal Promkes: The Indonesian Journal of Health Promotion and Health Education, 7(2), 193–203. https://doi.org/10.20473/jpk.V7.I2.2019.193-203
Hasriani. (2023). Implications of Stunting on Children's Health and Development in Pangkajene and the Islands. Journal of Family Planning, 8(2), 67–77.
Hidayah, D. I., Xaverius, F., & Sadewo, S. (2022). Family Experiences in Caring for Stunted Toddlers in Probolinggo. In Surabaya State University 2022 | (Vol. 304).
Hutagalung, A., Efendy, I., Harahap, J., Masyarakat, F. K., & Health Helvetia, I. (2022). Knowledge and social stigma influence tuberculosis treatment-seeking behavior. Priority Nursing Journal, 5(2), 77–84.
Kartikasari, N., & Ariana, A. D. (2019). The Relationship Between Mental Health Literacy, Self-stigma, and Intention to Seek Help in Early Adulthood. INSAN Journal of Psychology and Mental Health, 4(2), 64. https://doi.org/10.20473/jpkm.v4i22019.64-75
Indonesian Ministry of Health. (2023). Indonesia Health Profile 2023.
Komalasari, Supriati, E., Sanjaya, R., & Ifayanti, H. (2020). Factors Causing Stunting in Toddlers. Indonesian Health Magazine, 1(2), 51–56.
Kornelia Ringgi Kuwa, M., Santy Gaharpung, M., Oktavianus Wega, M., Arisna, B., & Sulastien, H. (2024). Overview of parenting patterns of parents who have stunting children. In JKJ): Indonesian National Nurses Association (Vol. 12).
Maya, N. (2021). Contribution of Mental Health Literacy and Perception of Public Stigma to Attitudes in Seeking Professional Psychological Help. Gadjah Mada Journal of Psychology (GamaJoP), 7(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.22146/gamajop.58470
Permatasari, V., Budi Musthofa, S., & Nugraha Prabamurti. (2020). Factors relating to green tobacco sickness (gts) treatment-searching behavior and tobacco farmers in bansari district, temanggung district. Public Health Journal, 8(2). http://ejournal3.undip.ac.id/index.php/jkm
Pertiwi Putri D, H. (2018). Changes in Health Seeking Behavior for Users of BPJS Health Health Facilities. Journal of Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, 7.
Sabila, T., Anggraeni, N. A., Cahya, M., Lestari, D., Diniyyah, S., Rahmah El-Yunusiyyah, P., & Panjang, P. (2023). Bunayya: Journal of Children's Education the importance of literacy for mothers in preventing stunting. Journal of Children's Education, 9, 267–274. https://doi.org/10.22373/bunayya.v9i2.22367
Saraswati, S. A., & Novianty, A. (2032). Intention to seek formal help in light of the public stigma of mental disorders in urban women. Psychopolyton: A Psychological Journal, 7(1), 1–11.
Sarni S, Wa Ode Salma, & Fithria Fithria. (2024). Factors Associated with the Incident of Stunting in Toddlers Aged 6-59 Months in the Working Area of the Benu-Benua Health Center Kendari City in 2024. Nusantara Medika Journal, 2(4), 14–34. https://doi.org/10.59680/medika.v2i4.1439
Savita, R., & Amelia, F. (2020). The Relationship of Maternal Employment, Gender, and ASI Eklusif with Incident of Stunting in Toddler Aged 6-59 Months in South Bangka. 8(1).
Trianggoro, T. B., & Wahjuni, E. S. (2020). Survey of health literacy among undergraduate students of surabaya state university education program. Journal of Sports and Health Education, 8(1), 205–209. https://ejournal.unesa.ac.id/index.php/jurnal-pendidikan-jasmani/issue/archive
Trysal, M. (2022). Community Stigma Against Former Drug Users in Subdistrict 24 Ilir Palembang. Empirical Journal, 6(1).
Wahyuni, F. C., Karomah, U., Basrowi, R. W., Sitorus, N. L., & Lestari, L. A. (2023). The Relationship between Nutrition Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge with the Incidence of Stunting: A Scoping Review. In Amerta Nutrition (Vol. 7, Issue 3SP, pp. 71–85). Airlangga University Faculty of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v7i3SP.2023.71-85
Wahyuningsih, T. (2022). Factors That Influence Community Health Literacy at the Banguntapan Bantul Community Health Center, D.I. Yogyakarta. Journal of Innovation Research and Knowledge, 2(3), 891–898.
WHO. (2024). Monitoring health for the SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals.
Widiastuti, A., Ermawati Ulkhasanah, M., & Nasrul Sani, F. (2022). Stigma in stunting children is at risk for mental health. http://journal.stikeskendal.ac.id/index.php/Keperawatan
Wulandari, S., Ramadhani, P. R., & Hilmi, L. I. (2024). Literature Review: Factors, Barriers, and Accessibility Related to Health Seeking Behavior in HIV Patients. Independent Healthy Journal, 19(1), 1–14. https://jurnal.poltekkespadang.ac.id/ojs/index.php/jsm/issue/archive
Published
2026-05-25
How to Cite
TRIWIJAYANTI, Adella Risma; INDANAH, Indanah; JAUHAR, Muhamad.
Stigma, Health Literacy, and Treatment-Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Stunting Toddlers in Rural Areas.
Journal of Bionursing, [S.l.], v. 8, n. 2, p. 153-161, may 2026.
ISSN 2685-6484.
Available at: <https://jos.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/job/article/view/15854>. Date accessed: 13 june 2026.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.job.2026.8.2.15854.
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Articles
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