Determinants of infant care practices in Minangkabau ethnic

Abstract

Background Child care practices are important for growth and development, and are influenced by cultural determinants. Indicators of infant care practices have not been determined for the Minangkabau ethnic group. Objective To determine indicators of infant care among a Minangkabau ethnic community. Methods A cross􀁈sectional study was done in Solok, West Sumatera, a region populated by largely Minangkabau ethnic groups. Infant feeding care (IFC), infant health care (IHC), infant clean care (ICC), and infant psychosocial stimulation care (IPSe) were the components of infant care used as indicators. Data on these four components were obtained through interviews with parents and direct observation. A score was assigned to each component. We used the confirmatory factors analysis (CFA) method to determine whether the indicators were valid in the studied population. Results We enrolled 417 infants in the study, v.ith a mean age of 8.7 months, and 51.6% were female. IFC scores were fairin 72.7%, high in 20.4%, and low in 6.7%. IHC scores were poor in 25.7%, fair in 58.8%, and good in 15.5%. ICC scores were poor in 0.7%, fair in 42.2%, and good in 58.1 %. IPSC scores were poor in 10.6%, fair in 84.9%, and high in 4.5%. On CFA, ICC contributed least to the indicator model (A: 0.17). ICC and IPSC had fair contributions to the model (A: 0.5 and 0.47, respectively). Goodness of fit of the model was good (P>0.05). Root mean square error approximation was 0.9. Conclusions Infant clean care was the most significant contributor to the infant care practice indicator in the Minangkabau ethnic community. Similar studies need to be done in other Indonesian ethnic groups. [Paediatr Indones. 2012;52:280,3].

Keywords

• infant
• care
• indicators