The Effect of Responsive Feeding-Based Complementary Feeding Education on Mothers' Knowledge and Practiceswith Infants Aged 6–12 Months

Introduction: Appropriate complementary feeding (MP-ASI) is essential to meet children's nutritional needs and support optimal growth and development. One effort to improve mothers’ knowledge and practices is through responsive feeding-based complementary feeding education. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of responsive feeding-based complementary feeding education on mothers’ knowledge and practices at Cahaya 2 Primary Clinic Lubuk Pakam in 2026. Methods: This study used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The sampling technique used accidental sampling with a total sample of 22 respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires on mothers’ knowledge and complementary feeding practices. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Results: showed that before the educational intervention, the mean score of mothers’ knowledge was 1.59 and increased to 2.50 after the intervention. The mean score of complementary feeding practices before the intervention was 1.59 and increased to 2.36 after the intervention. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05) for both knowledge and practice variables. Conclusion: There was a significant effect of responsive feeding-based complementary feeding education on mothers’ knowledge and practices at Cahaya 2 Primary Clinic Lubuk Pakam in 2026. Suggestion: Health workers are expected to provide continuous education regarding complementary feeding and responsive feeding to improve mothers’ knowledge and practices in child feeding.