Health Education and Health Promotion

en A Predictive Model for Stunting Risk in Infants Using Health Belief Model Constructs and Feeding Indicators Descriptive & Survey Aims: Stunting in children under five remains a critical public health problem in Indonesia, particularly in rural areas where access to optimal complementary feeding practices and health literacy are limited. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model to identify infants aged 6-12 months at risk of stunting using maternal behavioral determinants and feeding indicators. Instrument & Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 mother–infant dyads in Kabupaten Bone, Indonesia. The model incorporated constructs from the health belief model, including perceived severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action in feeding, based on WHO/UNICEF criteria (minimum dietary diversity, minimum meal frequency, and minimum acceptable diet). Structural equation modeling was applied to test direct and indirect pathways to risk classification. Findings: Feeding practices were the strongest direct predictor of stunting risk (β=0.537; p<0.001). Barriers indirectly increased risk by negatively affecting feeding behavior. The model demonstrated an acceptable fit (standardized root mean square residual=0.061) and explained substantial variance in the primary outcomes (R²=0.825 for intention, 0.526 for feeding practices, and 0.542 for risk). Conclusion: Maternal beliefs and behavioral intentions highly influence complementary feeding practices, which in turn reduce the risk of stunting in infants.   Health Belief Model Growth Disorders , Weaning, Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Risk Assessment 195 203 http://hehp.daneshafarand.org/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-111&slc_lang=en&sid=4 M. Musni 1003194753284600380554 1003194753284600380554 Yes Department of Midwifery, Institute Batari Toja Bone, Bone Regency, Indonesia D. Heriyana 1003194753284600380555 1003194753284600380555 No Department of Midwifery, Institute Batari Toja Bone, Bone Regency, Indonesia I. Irawati 1003194753284600380556 1003194753284600380556 No Department of Midwifery, Institute Batari Toja Bone, Bone Regency, Indonesia E. Bujawati 1003194753284600380557 1003194753284600380557 No Department of Midwifery, Institute Batari Toja Bone, Bone Regency, Indonesia A. Syam 1003194753284600380558 1003194753284600380558 No Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Alauddin State Islamic University, Makassar, Indonesia M. Malik 1003194753284600380559 1003194753284600380559 No Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Midwifery Professional Education, Gunung Sari University, Makassar, Indonesia