Interactive Social Media-Based Nutrition Education to Improve Complementary Feeding Practices for Mothers with Underweight Children
- 1Public Health Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Semarang
Abstract
Underweight in toddlers remains a serious nutritional problem that impacts longterm growth and development. Evidence from observational and intervention studies consistently indicates that complementary feeding practices do not meet recommendations. Social media has the potential to be an effective platform for nutrition education, but scientific evidence regarding interactive digital IEC interventions remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of social media based interactive IEC in improving mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the provision of complementary feeding to underweight toddlers. The study was conducted as a quasi experimental, non-randomized controlled trial on 84 mothers (42 intervention; 42 control) in Semarang Regency from October to November 2025. The intervention group received educational videos on complementary feeding via TikTok/YouTube (two videos per day for 14 days) and 24-hour chatbot support. The control group received routine community health center services. Pre and post- measurements were conducted using a reliable KAP questionnaire. Analysis used the Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests. Intergroup comparisons at post-test showed significant differences for all variables (p < 0.001), with a medium-to-large effect size in the intervention group. Social media based interactive IEC combining educational videos and a chatbot effectively increased mothers’ KAP on complementary feeding for underweight toddlers. Further research with a randomized design and longer duration is needed to evaluate its impact on children’s nutritional status.
Related
- Interactive Nutrition Education Using Animated Videos and Puzzles Improves Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Knowledge Among Elementary School Children
- Effect of nutrition counseling on complementary feeding practices among mothers with children aged 6–23 months in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
- Educational videos vs interactive e-modules: adolescents’ menstrual hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and practices
- [Integrative and complementary practices, hypertension and social indicators: an ecological study, Brazil, 2023].
- Factors Associated with Complementary Feeding Practices in Infants of Mothers with a History of High-Risk Pregnancy
BibTeX
@article{veftisia2026interactive,
title = {{Interactive Social Media-Based Nutrition Education to Improve Complementary Feeding Practices for Mothers with Underweight Children}},
author = {Vistra Veftisia and Mahalul Azam and Dina Nur Anggraini Ningrum and Oktia Woro Kasmini Handayani},
journal = {KEMAS: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.15294/kemas.v22i1.37746},
url = {https://doi.org/10.15294/kemas.v22i1.37746},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Interactive Social Media-Based Nutrition Education to Improve Complementary Feeding Practices for Mothers with Underweight Children
AU - Vistra Veftisia
AU - Mahalul Azam
AU - Dina Nur Anggraini Ningrum
AU - Oktia Woro Kasmini Handayani
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - KEMAS: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat
DO - 10.15294/kemas.v22i1.37746
UR - https://doi.org/10.15294/kemas.v22i1.37746
AB - Underweight in toddlers remains a serious nutritional problem that impacts longterm growth and development. Evidence from observational and intervention studies consistently indicates that complementary feeding practices do not meet recommendations. Social media has the potential to be an effective platform for nutrition education, but scientific evidence regarding interactive digital IEC interventions remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of social media based interactive IEC in improving mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding the provision of complementary feeding to underweight toddlers. The study was conducted as a quasi experimental, non-randomized controlled trial on 84 mothers (42 intervention; 42 control) in Semarang Regency from October to November 2025. The intervention group received educational videos on complementary feeding via TikTok/YouTube (two videos per day for 14 days) and 24-hour chatbot support. The control group received routine community health center services. Pre and post- measurements were conducted using a reliable KAP questionnaire. Analysis used the Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests. Intergroup comparisons at post-test showed significant differences for all variables (p < 0.001), with a medium-to-large effect size in the intervention group. Social media based interactive IEC combining educational videos and a chatbot effectively increased mothers’ KAP on complementary feeding for underweight toddlers. Further research with a randomized design and longer duration is needed to evaluate its impact on children’s nutritional status.
SN - 1858-1196
SN - 2355-3596
ER -