Factors associated with mothers' behaviors in selecting complementary feeding in Surabaya, Indonesia

Background: Complementary feeding is provided for babies at the age of 6 to 24 months. Appropriate types, amounts, and methods of feeding are crucial for baby growth and development. Many factors affect mothers' behavior in selecting complementary feeding. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors affecting mothers' behaviors in selecting complementary feeding for their babies. Methods: A descriptive analytical study with a cross-sectional approach was conducted on 153 mothers having babies aged 6-12 months old in Surabaya, Indonesia, recruited using simple random sampling. The independent variables were knowledge, attitude, belief, family income, and family support, while the dependent variable was mothers' behavior in selecting complementary feeding. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using the Spearman rho's test with a significance level of <0.05. Results: The results showed that knowledge (p=0.021), attitudes (p=0.030), beliefs (p=0.006), income (p=0.000), and family support (p=0.006) were factors affecting mothers' behavior in selecting complementary feeding. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, income and family support had a significant correlation with mothers' behaviors in selecting complementary feeding. This finding emphasizes pivotal needs to increase knowledge and attitude of complementary feeding for both mothers as the infant primary caregivers, and families as the closest support system for mothers.