The effect of kinesthetic tactile stimulation on enhancing motoric development in babies with low birth weight

Abstract

Neonatal mortality in Indonesia is predominantly attributed to Low Birth Weight (LBW), prematurity, asphyxia, and infections, with LBW infants at an elevated risk of mortality and developmental delays. The 2025 health goals in Indonesia prioritize reducing infant mortality, maternal mortality, and malnutrition. Metro City has implemented strategies such as healthcare training and enhanced referral networks to support these objectives. This study investigates the effect of tactile kinesthetic stimulation on motor development in LBW infants treated in a Metro City hospital from September to December 2019. Using a quasi-experimental design, 22 LBW infants were divided into intervention and control groups, each with 11 infants selected through quota sampling. Motor development was assessed using validated observation tools and analyzed with paired t-tests (α=0.05). Results indicated a significant improvement in motor development in the intervention group after 10 days of tactile kinesthetic stimulation (p=0.001, p<0.05), as well as a significant increase within the control group (p=0.004, p<0.05). A comparison on day 10 revealed a significant difference favoring the intervention group (p=0.001, p<0.05). The findings suggest that tactile kinesthetic stimulation effectively enhances motor development in LBW infants compared to standard care. However, the small sample size limits the generalizability of the results, warranting further research to confirm these findings in broader populations.