Early Marriage, The Roots Of Stunting Problems That Can't Be Ignored

Early marriage is still one of the main causes of the high stunting rate in Indonesia, especially in areas with limited access to education and economy.

The high incidence rate of early marriage shows that the practice of child marriage contributes significantly to the birth of children with the risk of malnutrition and non-optimal growth and development.

According to the Indonesian Minister of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, Dr. Wihaji, early marriage is not just a matter of law or social affairs, but has a systemic impact on the quality of future generations.

"One of the causes of stunting, apart from the issue of clean water, nutritional intake, and sanitation, is early marriage. This is what we have to take seriously," he said after the Proud Kencana Order which was held at the Office of the Ministry of Education and Culture/BKKBN, Jakarta, Thursday, June 26, 2025.

Teenage girls who get married at a young age tend not to be physically and psychologically ready to undergo pregnancy and raise children.

This has a direct impact on the quality of pregnancy, the low fulfillment of maternal and fetal nutrition, and the increased risk of infants being born with low weight and growth being disrupted.

Data from the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI) in 2023 noted that the national stunting rate was still at 21 percent, with most cases found in areas with high early marriage rates such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), West Kalimantan, and West Sulawesi.

In NTT, for example, said Wihaji, the practice of marriage under the age of 18 is still rampant due to cultural factors, poverty, and the lack of reproductive health education.

Dr. Wihaji revealed that the handling of early marriage cannot only rely on policies of the central and regional governments.

A more psychological and local wisdom-based approach is needed. One of the real efforts that have been made is to cooperate with religious leaders and traditional leaders in the regions.

"I gathered religious leaders in NTT such as priests, priests, kiai, romo with the Governor. Because in family matters like this, the government cannot walk alone. There needs to be an approach from figures who have emotional closeness to the community," explained Wihaji.

This approach is considered effective because community leaders have moral authority and are often the main references in family decision making, including the matter of child marriage.

Through sermons, recitations, and religious activities, educational messages regarding the risk of early marriage and its relation to stunting can be conveyed persuasively.

In addition to social and cultural interventions, increasing access to education and economic empowerment is an important component in preventing early marriage.

According to him, girls who receive education to high school or college have a greater chance of delaying marriage and have a better understanding of reproductive health.

Local governments in several provinces have started implementing early marriage prevention programs through counseling in schools, skills training for young women, as well as providing specialized counseling services at Puskesmas and village halls.

BKKBN also continues to develop the Planning Generation (Genre) program as a means of youth education about future planning, reproductive health, and the importance of family readiness.

In this case, overcoming early marriage as a cause of stunting requires cross-sectoral collaboration involving the government, community leaders, educational institutions, and families.

"Early marriage is a complex problem. Education can be disrupted, the economy becomes vulnerable, and the quality of families decreases. So we have to move together, not just formal institutions, but all elements of society," he concluded.