FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION MORINGA LEAVES (MORINGA OLEIFERA) IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT STUNTING

This study aims to explore the role of food safety and nutrition education using Moringa oleifera leaves in improving family nutritional conditions in priority areas for stunting reduction in Indonesia. The research employed a six-month quasi-experimental design involving 60 families with stunted toddlers who received an integrated nutrition education intervention along with the consumption of hygienically processed moringa leaf products. The results showed a significant increase in nutritional knowledge from 43.5% to 79.2%, changes in moringa consumption habits from 30.7% to 67.8%, and an improvement in children’s nutritional status from a Z-score of –2.7 to –1.8. These findings indicate that the combination of nutrition education and hygienic utilization of moringa leaves is highly effective in shaping healthier and more sustainable family practices, while also reducing stunting rates. The study concludes by recommending the integration of this innovative model into national programs for accelerating stunting reduction as an effective and sustainable solution to improving the quality of human resources in Indonesia.