<![CDATA[Diarrhea remains a significant public health problem among infants and children under five, with increasing cases reported in Kelurahan Pucangsawit, Jebres, Surakarta. Poor maternal personal hygiene practices are considered a potential contributing factor to diarrheal complaints in this population. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal behavior related to personal hygiene and diarrheal complaints among infants and toddlers in Kelurahan Pucangsawit. A quantitative observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 92 mothers who had infants and toddlers aged 0–59 months. Samples were selected using purposive sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing exclusive breastfeeding, handwashing practices, complementary feeding, household food safety, drinking water management, and proper feces disposal. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate statistical tests to examine associations among variables. The bivariate analysis used Fisher's exact test results. The p-value was 0.001 (p < 0.05). The study concludes that maternal personal hygiene behavior is associated with diarrheal complaints among infants and toddlers in Kelurahan Pucangsawit. Improving maternal hygiene practices is essential for preventing diarrhea in early childhood, particularly among infants and toddlers.]]>
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