Infant Massage Promotes Growth in Full-term Infants

Authors

  • Rahma Dian Hanifarizani1, Yulia Silvani1, Mergy Gayatri1,2, Prasetya Ismail Permadi3,4

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i3.1415

Keywords:

Baby massage, infant growth, length, weight, chest circumference, head circumference.

Abstract

The achievement of optimal growth is the result of the interaction of various factors, such as genetic factor,
environment, behavior and stimulation. There are several other factors that influence the increase in the
infant’s weight including drugs, congenital abnormalities or chronic diseases of the infant, the sex of the
infant, family socioeconomic conditions, nutrition and provision of baby massage stimulation. The study
aims to assess the effectiveness of baby massage in promoting baby growth, i.e. weight, length, chest
circumference and head circumference.
The study uses a quasi-experiment with pretest-posttest control group design. Subjects were recruited
from visitors in integrated service post (in Indonesian: Posyandu), independent midwifery practices and
community health sub-centers. We collected data of baby growths in Malang regency where the residents
are a homogeneous group. 30 infants were included in the study. They, subsequently, were randomly divided
into experimental and control group. The experimental group babies aged 3-6 months participated in the
baby massage for four weeks. The control group (N=15) was paired with the experimental group (N=15) by
matching the baby’s age and sex. The growth indicators were measured two times and statistically analysed
using independent t-test and eta-squared test.
Growth assessment used measurement results from variable body length, weight, chest circumference, head
circumference. After four weeks of massage, we found that weight, length, chest circumference and head
circumference increased among babies aged 3 to 6 months who received stimulation of baby massage.
Overall, the results of this study reassure that baby massage affects the growth of the infant.

Author Biography

  • Rahma Dian Hanifarizani1, Yulia Silvani1, Mergy Gayatri1,2, Prasetya Ismail Permadi3,4

    1Lecturer at Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia,
    2Researcher at Center for Health Financing Policy and Health Insurance Management, Faculty of Medicine,
    Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 3Lecturer at Department of Child
    Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia, 4Pediatrician at Saiful Anwar Hospital,
    Malang, Indonesia

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Published

2020-03-26

How to Cite

Infant Massage Promotes Growth in Full-term Infants. (2020). Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 11(3), 793-799. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i3.1415