Track: Healthcare Systems

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impacts of the internet usage and bank account ownership on the IYCF practices in Indonesia. The data used was the results of the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey. The unit of analysis was children aged 6–23 months comprising 4,880 children. The dependent variable was the IYCF practices. The main independent variables were the internet usage and bank account ownership. The control variables were the age and sex of the children, mother’s education, household wealth, and place of residence. The results of the study showed that mother’s internet usage and bank account ownership had significant positive impacts on the IYCF practices. Children aged 6–23 months whose mothers ever used the internet and had a bank account were more likely to be well fed. Older children, children with better educated mothers and better household wealth, and children who lived in urban areas were more likely to be well fed. Therefore, the IYCF practices improvement program in Indonesia should utilize the internet to inform, educate, and communicate full IYCF practices, empower mothers financially, and aim at younger children, children with lower educated mothers and lower household wealth, and children in rural areas.