Exploring Early Supplemental Food Practice in Indonesia
Mekar Dwi Anggraeni, Rahmi Setyani, Aprilia Kartikasari, Eni Rahmawati

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Abstract

Background: Nutrition during first 1000 days of infants life becoming the most important stunting influencing factor. Providing exclusive breastfeeding is highly recommended, however the supplemental food is common provided for the infants before six months of infants age in Indonesia.
Purpose: To explore the early supplemental food introduction among Indonesian mothers.
Methods: This was an ethnographic study and involved 26 participants. Data were collected using focus group discussion, indepth interviews, observations, and field notes. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis method.
Results: Analysis revealed five main themes: early supplemental food is common; early supplemental food is good for infant, the sooner the better, the supplemental food types, and grandmother know best.
Conclusion: A culturally sensitive health education is needed to prevent early supplemental food introduction in order to increase the exclusive breastfeeding practice among the Javanese community and involve grandmother as the key person in the early supplemental food introduction.

Keywords: Early supplemental food, Culture, Infant, Indonesia,

Topic: Maternity and Pediatric Nursing