<![CDATA[Background: Diaper dermatitis is a common skin condition among infants who wear diapers and is characterized by redness, irritation, and discomfort. Appropriate diaper area care is essential for maintaining skin integrity and preventing worsening of diaper dermatitis. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has been used as a topical agent in infant skin care; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness in reducing the severity of diaper dermatitis among infants aged 0–12 months, particularly in primary healthcare settings, remains limited. This study aimed to determine the difference in changes in diaper dermatitis severity between infants receiving EVOO and those receiving standard diaper area care in the working area of Samata Public Health Center, Gowa Regency. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of 34 infants aged 0–12 months with diaper dermatitis who were selected using purposive sampling, with 17 infants in the intervention group and 17 in the control group. The intervention group received topical EVOO at a dose of 2–3 drops at each diaper change, with an average frequency of 3–4 applications per day for 14 days, whereas the control group received standard diaper area care. Diaper dermatitis severity was assessed before and after the intervention using the Diaper Dermatitis Severity Index Score (DDSIS). Changes in DDSIS scores were calculated as the difference between pretest and posttest scores and were compared between the two groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The median DDSIS score in the intervention group decreased from 2.0 at pretest to 0.0 at posttest, with a median change of 2.0 (IQR, 1.0–2.0). In the control group, the median DDSIS score decreased from 2.0 to 1.0, with a median change of 1.0 (IQR, 0.0–1.0). The Mann–Whitney U test showed a statistically significant difference in changes in DDSIS scores between the intervention and control groups (U = 78.5; p = 0.002). Conclusion: In this study protocol, 14 days of EVOO administration was accompanied by a greater reduction in diaper dermatitis severity compared with standard care among infants aged 0–12 months. EVOO may be considered as a potential topical intervention for diaper dermatitis; however, its use should be accompanied by standard diaper area care and monitoring of the infant's skin condition. Because this study employed a non-randomized quasi-experimental design, the findings should be interpreted as a difference in changes in severity between groups rather than as evidence of causality equivalent to that provided by a randomized controlled trial. ]]>
