Changes in Appetite among Toddlers Aged 1–3 Years after Massage with Citronella Oil

Ardilla Ayu Amilya  Putri; Indah Rahmaningtyas; Desy Dwi Cahyani; Dwi Estuning Rahayu

doi:10.58222/jkm.v5i1.2005

Authors

Ardilla Ayu Amilya Putri Program Studi Sarjana Terapan Kebidanan Kediri, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang
Indah Rahmaningtyas Program Studi Sarjana Terapan Kebidanan Kediri, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang
Desy Dwi Cahyani Program Studi Sarjana Terapan Kebidanan Kediri, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang
Dwi Estuning Rahayu Program Studi Sarjana Terapan Kebidanan Kediri, Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58222/jkm.v5i1.2005

Keywords:

appetite, citronella oil, eating behaviour, toddler massage, toddlers

Abstract

Background: Reduced appetite in toddlers may compromise nutrient intake and growth. Toddler massage with citronella oil may provide tactile stimulation and relaxation that can support eating behaviour. Objective: To analyze changes in appetite among toddlers aged 1–3 years before and after massage using citronella oil at Al-Amiin Day Care, Kediri City. Methods: This quantitative pre-experimental study used a one-group pretest-posttest design involving 34 toddlers from a population of 50. The intervention was delivered four times over one month, once weekly, for approximately 15 minutes per session. Appetite was measured using a 17-item questionnaire adapted from the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test at α=0.05. Results: Before the intervention, 24 toddlers (70.6%) had moderate appetite and 10 (29.4%) had good appetite. After the intervention, all participants (100%) were classified as having good appetite. The median score increased from 59.5 (IQR 53.25–63.00) to 70.0 (IQR 69.00–77.00). Thirty-three participants had higher post-intervention scores, one had a lower score, and none had unchanged scores. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant pre–post difference (Z=-5.059; p<0.001). Conclusion: Appetite scores increased after four sessions of toddler massage using citronella oil. Because this study had no control group, the findings demonstrate a pre–post change but do not establish definitive causal effectiveness

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