Culturally-Based Social Intervention Model: Muhammadiyah Da'wah for Women's Empowerment in Stunting Prevention

Abstract

Decisions about what young children should eat are not always made by mothers alone. In many families, feeding practices are influenced by advice from older relatives, inherited beliefs about food, and expectations surrounding childcare. Drawing on a qualitative case study in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu, this article examines how these relationships shape maternal decision-making and how Muhammadiyah–‘Aisyiyah religious outreach contributes to discussions about child nutrition. The study involved 30 informants, including mothers of young children, ‘Aisyiyah cadres, posyandu cadres, and religious or community leaders. Data were collected through interviews, participatory observation, and focus group discussions and examined thematically. The findings show that food-related beliefs persist partly because they are embedded in relationships of care and intergenerational authority. Although mothers are responsible for daily feeding, introducing different practices may require negotiation with senior family members. Religious gatherings provide some participating mothers with opportunities to discuss nutritional information and connect proposed changes with familiar moral understandings of parental responsibility. These findings suggest that maternal empowerment involves more than acquiring knowledge; it also depends on the ability to negotiate established family expectations. The article proposes a Nusantarazation-led culturally situated intervention framework linking community discussion, maternal agency, and household negotiation. Its contribution lies in identifying potential social mechanisms for changing feeding practices rather than demonstrating a measurable reduction in stunting.