Abstract

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are a common helminthic disease that can have a devastating impact. The impact of this helminth infection is the occurrence of stunting nutrition problems in elementary school children. Therefore, school children need to be given supportive education to prevent helminthiasis and stunting independently.

Methods: This study was conducted in 4 elementary schools in Amanuban Barat Subdistrict, South Central Timor Regency, in 2024. Type of quantitative research with a pseudo-experimental research design with the Supportive Education method, consisting of 2 groups, namely the experimental group and the control group. The research variables consisted of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. The sample size of the study was 200 elementary school children, consisting of 100 children in the experimental group and 100 children in the control group. The sampling technique used simple random sampling. The research instrument used a questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes and behavioural actions and analysed differences in knowledge, attitudes and actions in the treatment group before and after providing supportive education using paired T-test and Mann-Whitney Test.

Results: The results of the Mann-Whitney statistical test of the difference in knowledge between the control group pretest and post-test p value 0.410 and the experimental group respondents (SE) pre - post-test p value 0.000 significant. the results of the paired T-test statistical test of the difference in attitude between the control pre test and post test p value 0.361 insignificant and the treatment group supportive education pre and post test p value

0.000 significant. The results of the Mann-Whitney statistical test of differences in behavioural actions of the control group pre test and post test p value 0.186 is not significant and the experimental group respondent supportive education post test p value 0.000 significant.

Conclusion: There is an effect of supportive education on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of preventive measures for helminthiasis infection in elementary school children with stunting.

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