The effectiveness of complementary baby massage therapy on weight gain in stunting toddlers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56922/mchc.v4i11.2562

Authors

  • Dessy Ratna Sari Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Mitra Husada Medan
  • Deby Chyntia Yun Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Mitra Husada Medan
  • Henny Rista Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Mitra Husada Medan
  • Eva Donna Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Mitra Husada Medan, Indonesia
  • Sri Rezeki Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Mitra Husada Medan

Baby Massage Complementary Therapy Stunting Toddler Weight

Abstract

Background: Stunting remains a chronic nutritional problem in Indonesia, impacting the growth and development of infants. Low appetite and inadequate food intake are major contributing factors to stunting. One non-pharmacological intervention with the potential to improve appetite and digestive function is infant massage, which is considered safe, easy to implement, and sustainable in the community.

Purpose: To analyze the effect of infant massage on eating patterns and weight gain in stunted toddlers.

Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design, dividing respondents into an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received structured infant massage six times over two weeks, followed by one-month follow-up. Data collection included an appetite assessment questionnaire and anthropometric measurements to assess changes in toddler weight.

Results: The study results showed that stunted toddlers who received regular infant massage for two weeks experienced significant increases in appetite and weight gain after a one-month follow-up period compared to the control group. Infant massage has been shown to be effective in stimulating appetite and supporting weight gain in stunted toddlers.

Conclusion: Infant massage can be used as an effective complementary intervention in stunting management programs, particularly in improving dietary patterns and increasing the nutritional status of stunted toddlers.

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Published

2026-02-20

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 11 (2026): February Edition

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Articles

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.