PENGARUH PIJAT TUI NA TERHADAP PENINGKATAN NAFSU MAKAN PADA BALITA DI KLINIK PRATAMA DITA HUSADA KEC. TANJUNG MORAWA KAB. DELI SERDANG TAHUN 2025

Eating difficulties are commonly experienced by toddlers aged 1–5 years or preschool age, as their physical growth slows down compared to when they were infants. Eating difficulties are considered normal as long as they do not interfere with the child’s health and development. However, a lack of appetite in toddlers is one of the common problems faced by parents and can affect the growth and development of children. One alternative method that can be used to improve appetite in toddlers is Tui Na massage therapy, a traditional Chinese massage technique that has been used for generations to enhance organ function and energy circulation in the body. Based on the results of the study, 22 respondents (95.7%) were found to have eating difficulties. This study aims to
determine the effect of Tui Na massage on increasing appetite in toddlers at Dita Husada Primary Clinic, Tanjung Morawa Sub-district, Deli Serdang District. This is a quantitative study using a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest approach. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling, where the sample is selected based on specific objectives and characteristics. The total population was 30 respondents. The sample consisted of 23 toddlers who experienced decreased appetite and were divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention was given in the form of Tui Na massage for five consecutive days. The results showed a significant increase in toddlers’ appetite after the Tui Na massage intervention compared to the control group. Thus, Tui Na massage proved to have an effect as a complementary therapy to improve appetite in toddlers. The researcher recommends that health workers continuously provide information to parents of toddlers so they can learn and apply Tui Na massage to overcome eating difficulties in children.