Abstract
Background: Low birth weight (LBW) remains a major global public health challenge, with more than 20 million babies born each year. Maternal nutritional status during pregnancy is a major determinant of LBW, but good perceptions and knowledge do not always translate into appropriate nutritional behavior without adequate health motivation. This study aims to analyze the role of health motivation in influencing pregnant women's perceptions of nutritional compliance behaviors for LBW prevention.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Conducted on 220 pregnant women, selected using cluster random sampling with the following inclusion criteria: third-trimester pregnant women residing in the study area and willing to be respondents. Exclusion criteria: pregnant women with communication or cognitive disorders and history of severe pregnancy complications. Data were collected through validated questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model construct, covering perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, health motivation, and nutritional compliance behavior of pregnant women as an effort to prevent LBW. Path analysis was processed using AMOS 29.
Results: Perceived susceptibility (Z=0.2866; P=0.009), perceptions benefits (Z=0.443; P=0.001), and perceptions barriers (Z=-2.938; P=0.003) had a significant indirect effect on the nutritional compliance behavior of pregnant women. However, perceived severity did not have a significant indirect effect on pregnant women's nutritional compliance behavior (Z=1.787; P=0.074) through healthy motivation. The study model showed excellent fit (χ²=0.295; RMSEA=0.000; CFI=1.000; TLI=1.026; RMR=0.187).
Conclusions: Health motivation is an important mediator in bridging perception to actual action because it builds and strengthens motivation of pregnant women through more personal, communicative, and experience-based approach.