12 August 2023
Threesna Sharfina
In line with the Community Service aspect of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, a team from the Faculty of Nursing and the Faculty of Dentistry at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) collaborated on the activity “Pendampingan Kader Cegah Stunting dengan Gerakan Skrining ‘Gemulek’ (Gigi, Mulut, dan KEK = Kekurangan Energi Kronis) pada Perempuan Usia Subur dan Ibu Hamil di Desa Ujung Rambung, Kabupaten Serdang Bedagai” on Saturday, August 12, 2023. This activity was coordinated by the Institute for Community Service (LPPM) USU, with the lead coordinator, Bina Melvia Girsang, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep, and community service members including Ance Marintan D Sitohang, SP., M.Div., MTH; Eqlima Elfira, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep; Dr. Ervina Sofyanti, drg., Sp.Ort(K). The team also included students from the Nursing Professions Program, the Dental Education Program, and the Orthodontic Specialization Program at USU.
Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem in children under five years old, characterized by shorter height than their peers. It is caused by prolonged malnutrition. According to the 2013 RISKESDAS, the prevalence of stunting in Indonesian children under five years old remains high, at 30.8%, meaning 1 in 3 children in Indonesia are stunted. Stunting can lead to physiological and psychological changes and oral health problems and may result in premature births in pregnant women. Therefore, preventing stunting involves consuming foods and drinks rich in vitamins and minerals.
The activity was warmly welcomed by the Head of Ujung Rambung Village and local health cadres, who hoped the stunting prevention service through the “Gemulek” screening movement would be beneficial and applied by the community in Ujung Rambung Village. The activity began with health education, followed by assessing chronic energy deficiency (KEK) through a questionnaire and a screening of oral health conditions. During the oral health examination, education was provided to the village health cadre mothers. The community was enthusiastic about asking questions and hoped that ongoing dental services would follow the health education and oral health screenings.
During the examination, several oral health issues were identified among the mothers, including tooth decay (caries), tooth root issues, tooth loss, and bleeding gums while brushing. Additionally, malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) was found in both the mothers and the children who participated. The event continued with a lecture from the Orthodontic Specialist Dental Education Program, highlighting the risk factors associated with malocclusion, which is linked to caries, gingivitis, bad breath, and other oral health problems. From the initial screening, the village head expressed hope for the continuation of this community service, especially regarding dental health for the people of Serdang Bedagai, particularly among children and teenagers.
