"It's Hard to Feed Them Right": A Phenomenological Analysis of Dietary Diversity, Family Sanitation, and Food Access in Rural Indonesian Stunting Cases.

INTRODUCTION: This study explores maternal perceptions of stunting, food security challenges, and child-feeding efforts in rural Indonesia, where socioeconomic constraints and traditional practices significantly impact child nutritional outcomes. METHOD: Utilizing a descriptive phenomenological approach, the study conducted in-depth interviews with 16 mothers of stunted toddlers to explore their daily experiences regarding food access and family sanitation, achieving data saturation. RESULTS: Three themes emerged. First, mothers view stunting as nutritional deficiency and growth failure causing low immunity. Second, economic barriers and limited knowledge drive food insecurity, forcing reliance on cheap, low-nutrient diets instead of animal proteins. Third, mothers actively attempt food modification and utilize Posyandu for supplementary feeding, preferring face-to-face counselling. DISCUSSION: Maternal care for stunted children is heavily hindered by poverty and low health literacy, despite active engagement with local health services. Interventions must prioritize direct nutritional education and economic empowerment to improve dietary diversity and household food security.