A Digital-Based Collaborative Strategy for Stunting Prevention through Community and Village Government Synergy

Stunting remains a multidimensional public health challenge that reflects structural inequalities in nutrition, sanitation, maternal health, and local governance systems. Conventional prevention strategies often rely on sector-specific interventions that operate in fragmented institutional environments, limiting coordination, data integration, and long-term effectiveness. This study develops a conceptual framework for a digital-based collaborative strategy aimed at strengthening stunting prevention at the village level. Using a qualitative conceptual approach grounded in theoretical synthesis, the study integrates perspectives from public health systems, collaborative governance, and digital governance. The analysis identifies structural limitations in conventional strategies, including disjointed data systems, weak inter-sectoral coordination, and limited scalability of behavior change interventions. Digital transformation is conceptualized as a governance enabler that enhances data integration, real-time monitoring, communication efficiency, and accountability mechanisms. By strengthening information symmetry and institutional coordination, digital approaches reinforce collaborative mechanisms between village governments and communities. The proposed framework illustrates a systemic pathway linking digital infrastructure, collaborative governance processes, and improved intervention effectiveness. The findings suggest that digitalization does not replace collaboration but functions as a catalyst that enhances governance capacity and supports evidence-informed decision-making. However, successful implementation requires complementary institutional capacity building and attention to digital access disparities. This study contributes to theoretical development by integrating governance and public health perspectives and offers a structured foundation for future empirical research and policy innovation in village-based stunting prevention strategies.