<![CDATA[Introduction: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated Health Belief Model (HBM)-Symptom Management Theory (SMT) diarrhea management module in improving mothers' home-based caregiving capabilities and toddlers' health status. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group design involving 72 mothers and their toddlers with diarrhea, with 36 participants in the intervention group and 36 in the control group, recruited sequentially from two public health centers in Semarang, Indonesia. The intervention group received a 12-week HBM-SMT-based module delivered in four sessions: socialization, externalization, combination, and internalization. Maternal caregiving capabilities were evaluated as pre and post-intervention, while toddler clinical outcomes were descriptively tracked as a secondary trend. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman's rho correlation analysis. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in maternal caregiving capabilities, including in condition monitoring (∆ mean = 13.94), meeting basic needs (∆ mean = 25.94), and infection prevention (∆ mean = 13.61) (all p <0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Toddlers in the intervention group had shorter mean diarrhea duration (4.88 vs 6.38 days), an increase in normal nutritional status (from 61.1% to 80.6% vs. a decline from 63.9% to 50.0% in control), and a higher proportion of intact skin integrity without irritation (94,4% vs. 61.1% post-intervention). Conclusions: The integrated HBM-SMT module enhanced maternal caregiving capabilities and improved clinical outcomes in toddlers with diarrhea.]]>
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