Food safety is a crucial factor influencing public health, especially in developing areas where food handling, preparation, and storage methods may be insufficient (1, 2). Unsafe food is a primary contributor to diarrhea, a severe yet prevalent health concern in young children that can lead to malnutrition, stunting, developmental delays, and, in severe instances, death. In rural and semi-rural regions, these hazards are sometimes exacerbated by restricted access to healthcare, insufficient sanitation, and a lack of understanding of hygienic habits (3). Vulnerable populations, such as toddlers with growing immune systems and specific dietary requirements, face heightened health risks from exposure to contaminated food, which can result in recurrent episodes of diarrhea (4).

Diarrhea is characterized by the symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which may be attributed to various bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents. The disease is transmitted via contaminated food, drinking water, or person-to-person contact due to inadequate hygiene. Diarrheal illness ranks as the third primary cause of mortality in children under five years of age, resulting in around 443,832 fatalities annually. The latest data from the 2020 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey shows that the prevalence of diarrhea is 9.8%. According to the 2020 Indonesia Health Profile data, diarrhea is a significant contributor to deaths among children aged 29 days to 11 months, causing 14.5% of deaths. Among children under five (12–59 months), the mortality rate due to diarrhea is 4.55% (5). In 2022, diarrhea cases across all ages in South Java that were treated amounted to 33,049 people or 53.3% of the estimated 61,995 cases. Diarrhea cases in children under five who received treatment totaled 13,625 cases, which is 43.6% of the estimated 31,253 toddler diarrhea cases (6).

Although the causes of diarrhea in children are well documented, there remains a need for more research on how food hygiene practices affect diarrhea in low socioeconomic urban communities in Indonesia (7). In East Jakarta, poor food hygiene practices among mothers have been linked to diarrhea in children under two years old. Enhancing mothers’ knowledge and practices related to food and personal hygiene could help prevent diarrhea in children aged 6 to 36 months (8). Factors such as water, sanitation, personal hygiene practices, knowledge, and awareness contribute to the prevalence of undernutrition and diarrhea in urban slums like those in Bandung, Indonesia (9). This study examines specific risk factors related to food safety and personal hygiene in Purwawinangun Village, exploring their association with the high rates of diarrhea among toddlers. By focusing on this vulnerable age group, the research intends to identify modifiable risk factors and recommend effective interventions to mitigate health risks. Purwawinangun Village, located in Cirebon, West Java, serves as a rural area in Indonesia where food safety issues are particularly concerning.

This study involved 36 mothers, of whom 44.4% were older than 20, 58.3% graduated from Senior High School, and 86.1% were homemakers. Of all mothers with 36 children, 55.6% had female children aged 1 to 4 (Table 4).

Diarrhea occurred in 69.4% of toddlers. The prevalence of diarrhea among toddlers varied significantly between those with poor and better hygiene behaviors of their mothers (p < 0.05). Six out of 36 toddlers whose mothers had poor food safety practices experienced diarrhea, while the prevalence was lower in toddlers whose mothers practiced better food safety (5 out of 36 toddlers) (Table 5). Mothers’ hygiene practices significantly correlated with diarrhea in toddlers, yielding a prevalence ratio (PR = 3.50, 95% CI: 11.454–33.696). Mothers’ attitudes toward food safety were significantly associated with diarrhea in toddlers (PR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.127–89.524).

Comprehending the role of food safety procedures in child health within this community would illuminate broader public health implications and guide targeted health programs aimed at enhancing food hygiene standards and mitigating illness transmission in comparable rural environments. Our study indicates that the risk of having diarrhea is higher in children aged <5 years whose mothers had poor personal hygiene and food safety practices. Children who lived in houses with mothers who practiced better personal hygiene and food safety had a lower risk of diarrhea. This finding is consistent with existing literature suggesting that inadequate food safety and poor hygiene practices are key risk factors for diarrhea, particularly in areas with limited sanitation and health education access (12–14).

The association between the hygiene habits of mothers and toddler diarrhea was reinforced by a significant prevalence ratio (PR = 3.50, 95% CI: 11.454–33.696). Toddlers whose mothers exhibited poor hygiene practices were 3.5 times more susceptible to diarrhea than those whose mothers maintained superior hygiene standards. These findings correspond with international health research highlighting the importance of maternal hygiene in mitigating the spread of germs responsible for diarrheal illnesses (15). Effective handwashing techniques, utilization of clean water, teaching germ theory, and comprehensive health interventions can markedly decrease the prevalence of diarrhea in children (12, 15–17). Enhancing hygiene practices and reducing diarrhea risk are significantly influenced by education and the elevation of mothers’ economic level (18). Our finding on diarrhea prevalence is consistent with Agustina et al. (2014) that the poor food-hygiene practice score was significantly associated with more diarrhea among children aged <2 years, although overall, there was no relation to the prevalence of diarrhea among children under five urban area of Jatinegara, East Jakarta district, Indonesia (7). This finding can be attributed to the reality that weaning foods for young children, when prepared in unhygienic conditions, often become contaminated with pathogens, representing a significant risk factor for the transmission of diarrhea (19). Nonetheless, our investigation could not establish a link between the contamination of weaning foods and diarrhea, primarily due to the absence of an evaluation of specific enteropathogens. While foodborne infection is the primary mode of transmission for gastrointestinal infections in developed nations, the extent of its impact on diarrhea prevalence in low-income areas remains ambiguous (20).

In our study, we evaluated various food hygiene practices, including the hand-washing habits of mothers, food preparation methods (such as holding times and reheating practices), and the use of clean utensils for eating or cooking. While these factors were linked to potential sources of foodborne transmission, they did not demonstrate statistically significant associations with diarrhea. Hand washing is the most thoroughly examined hygiene practice with reliable evidence in developing countries (21). In households with low socioeconomic status, the lack of fundamental sanitation facilities can result in inadequate food hygiene and sanitation practices, thus causing the risk of food- or water-borne transmission (22, 23).

The study identified a substantial correlation between mothers’ views on food safety and the incidence of diarrhea in toddlers, with a prevalence ratio of 4.20 (95% CI: 2.127–89.524). This indicates that mothers’ perceptions and prioritization of food safety directly affect their children’s health. Mothers exhibiting a passive or indifferent stance on food safety may unintentionally expose their children to hazardous food handling habits, increasing the risk of diarrhea. These findings align with prior studies that associate maternal attitudes and knowledge with child health outcomes, particularly in preventing foodborne (24).

The significant incidence of diarrhea in toddlers emphasizes the necessity for focused interventions that enhance mother food safety awareness and practices. Educational initiatives emphasizing appropriate food handling, storage, and hygiene may significantly reduce the incidence of diarrhea in young infants. The results indicate that maternal attitudes must be targeted through behavioral change communication tactics, as enhancing mothers’ awareness and beliefs regarding food safety could directly benefit their children’s health. However, diarrhea is a multifactorial condition influenced by environmental, behavioral, and socio-economic factors—climate, clean water, sanitation access, hygiene education and behavior, and antibiotic use. Prevention efforts should focus on increasing access to clean water, hygiene education, and wise antibiotic use to reduce the incidence of diarrhea. (11, 25)

This study was subject to several limitations. First, this study was a cross-sectional design; thus, it is difficult to determine whether mothers’ low personal hygiene practices and food safety preceded the diarrhea risk in their children. Second, data collection by questionnaire may have led to recall bias and misreporting of diarrhea incidence of their children in the last 6 months. Furthermore, unfortunately, we do not physically observe the behavior of toddlers, which has not been measured and could potentially contribute to diarrhea in young children. This study represents a village of Purwawinangun, Suranenggala, Cirebon, West Java, Indonesia, and thus is not representative of all mothers and children; therefore, further research with a larger sample size and broader geographical coverage is necessary, which might yield different conclusions from this study.

The results of this study show that the risk of diarrhea in children can be prevented by improving mothers’ hygiene behaviors and food safety practices. Mothers, especially those living in villages with limited water access, need ongoing education on the importance of food safety. To enhance this practice, the local government can provide health promotion initiatives to prevent diarrhea in children.