Stunting continues to pose a serious public health concern globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Indonesia. Maternal knowledge during pregnancy plays a crucial role in early prevention, yet the relative contribution of social support, self-efficacy, and maternal characteristics remains underexplored. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 randomly selected pregnant women registered at community health centers in Padang City. Data were collected through validated questionnaires covering knowledge of stunting prevention, social support, self-efficacy, and maternal characteristics. Reliability and validity testing confirmed acceptable values (Cronbach's α ≥ 0.70, CR > 0.70, AVE > 0.50). Structural equation modeling with SmartPLS version 3 was applied to assess relationships among variables, with significance determined at p 2 = 0.713; adjusted R2 = 0.705). Maternal characteristics (β = 0.332, p 2 = 0.513, large), followed by self-efficacy (f2 = 0.198, moderate), and maternal characteristics (f2 = 0.125, small-to-moderate). Predictive relevance was substantial (Q2 = 0.560). Pregnant women's knowledge of stunting prevention is shaped primarily by social support, with complementary roles of self-efficacy and maternal characteristics. Interventions that integrate family- and community-based support with strategies to enhance maternal confidence and education may significantly improve stunting prevention efforts in vulnerable populations.
Delima et al. (Sun,) studied this question.