Early Weaning Food Practice in Baby Viewed from Grandmother’s Role

Abstract

The habit of providing additional food other than breast milk to babies aged 0-6 months still occurs in many parts of the world. This activity can adversely affect the baby's health and nutritional status. One of the factors that can influence weaning food is family support. This study aim was to determine the relationship between the role of grandmothers and the practice of complementary feeding in infants aged <6 months in the village of Timbulharjo Sewon, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Quantitative study with cross sectional design was used. The sample in this study were mothers who had babies aged <6 months who in their care had been or are currently assisted by grandmothers with total 86 people. The data was collected by Grandmother’s Role of the Weaning Food Questionnaire. Simple Random Sampling technique was used. Statistical test analysis with Chi Square was performed. The results showed that the role of grandmothers, mostly in the small role category, as many as 68 people (79%) and 12 people (14%) had a big role. The people around breastfeeding mothers will more or less influence how their babies care. It is not only the role of health workers, it is the people closest to the mother who will be the most influential in their decisions and behavior. In conclusion, there is a relationship between the role of the grandmother and the weaning food in the village of Timbulharjo Sewon Bantul, Yogyakarta.