The efficacy of implementing family-centered care in child feeding practices

Abstract

Nutrition is a basic need for a child to grow optimally. Improper child feeding practices are still found in the community, leading to malnutrition. The incidence of malnutrition has increased sharply in children aged 6 to 18 months in various countries, primarily due to ignorance and/or an inability to prepare food. The family plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of child nutrition problems. Families can provide education and practical supervision in addressing nutrition-related issues, including promoting healthy lifestyle patterns. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of implementing family-centered care in changing child feeding practices. The research design employed was true experimental analysis with a pre-posttest group design. The population consisted of 130 respondents, infants aged 6 to 23 months, selected using a probability sampling technique with purposive random sampling. The research was conducted in Wonokromo, Surabaya, Indonesia, from March to June 2023. The measuring instrument utilized was a family-centered care-based child feeding guide. The independent variable in the study was family care, while the dependent variable was the change in the child's feeding practices. Test analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. The results of the Mann-Whitney test indicated a significant difference in feeding practices before and after counseling with the family-centered care approach (p = 0.043). Thus, family-centered care was found to be effective in changing child feeding practices.