Expert Consensus on Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) Guidelines on Stunting Management in Indonesian Primary Healthcare (Puskesmas)

Stunting remains a significant public health challenge in Indonesia, with a prevalence of 21.6%, as of 2022. Despite government efforts, progress in reducing stunting rates has been uneven across the country. Primary healthcare facilities (Puskesmas) play a crucial role in implementing stunting prevention and management strategies, but their effectiveness is often hampered by a lack of coordinated interprofessional collaboration.

This study aimed to develop expert consensus guidelines for Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) in stunting management within Indonesian primary healthcare settings, identifying key professionals, defining roles, and proposing strategies to enhance collaboration.

The expert consensus process, involving 51 participants from various healthcare disciplines and organizations, identified doctors, nutritionists, nurses, midwives, and public health specialists as key professionals, with specific roles outlined for each.

Consensus was reached on focusing interventions for the life cycle, particularly the first 1000 days of life, and on the importance of primary healthcare transformation. Strategies to enhance collaboration included leadership from Puskesmas heads, clear role delineation, regular coordination meetings, and periodic interprofessional training.

There was unanimous support for developing comprehensive IPC guidelines, with 81% deeming it very important. Implementation recommendations included guideline socialization among Puskesmas leadership and professional organizations and organizing interprofessional collaboration training.