Association between maternal dietary diversity and iron deficiency Severity in pregnant women
Keywords:
Anemia; Dietary Patterns; Iron Status; Pregnant Women; Primary Health Care.Abstract
Background: Maternal anemia remains a critical public health burden in Indonesia, significantly contributing to perinatal morbidity. Despite national iron supplementation programs, the prevalence of anemia persists, often driven by suboptimal dietary diversity and low bioavailability of iron intake.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the correlation between dietary patterns and iron status decrease (anemia) among pregnant women in a primary health care setting in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at Karang Pule Public Health Center. The population comprised all registered pregnant women in the first trimester, recruited via total sampling technique (n=111). Dietary patterns were assessed using a validated Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), while anemia was confirmed by hemoglobin levels (<11 g/dL). Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test with a significance level of alpha < 0.05.
Results: The majority of respondents held a Bachelor’s degree (44.1%) yet were unemployed (55.0%). The prevalence of anemia was high (61.2%), coinciding with 55.0% of participants exhibiting poor dietary patterns. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between dietary patterns and anemia incidence (p < 0.001). Pregnant women with poor dietary habits had a substantially higher risk of anemia (85.2%) compared to those with good dietary patterns (32.0%).
Conclusion: Dietary quality is a strong determinant of iron status during pregnancy. A gap exists between maternal education levels and nutritional practices, indicating that high literacy does not guarantee adequate dietary intake.
Recommendation: Health professionals should enhance antenatal care by shifting from general health education to practical nutritional counseling. Interventions should focus on managing first-trimester nausea and optimizing local food combinations to improve iron absorption.
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