Empowering Community Health Volunteers as a Strategy to Prevent Anemia in Pregnant Women: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Diana Rosalina Sentuf; Jumrah; Hasta Handayani Idrus; Stang; Darmawansyah

doi:10.55489/njcm.161020255672

Authors

Diana Rosalina Sentuf Department of Midwifery, Graduate School, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Jumrah Department of Midwifery, Graduate School, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Hasta Handayani Idrus Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Stang Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Darmawansyah Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55489/njcm.161020255672

Keywords:

Community health volunteers’ empowermen, Iron supplement tablets, Adherence, Hemoglobin, Anemia, Pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy anemia is a significant public health issue causing postpartum hemorrhage, premature birth, and low birth weight. Empowering community health volunteers could improve compliance and improve hemoglobin levels.

Methodology: The study investigates the impact of community health volunteer’s empowerment on adherence to iron supplement tablets tablet consumption and hemoglobin levels. the sample size is 62 third-trimester pregnant women (31 per group) for precision standard care using only the Maternal and Child Health book without cadre assistance. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 questionnaire was used to assess compliance. Data analysis included Chi-square and Paired Sample T test.

Results: Adherence to blood tablet consumption increased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group with a significant value of p <0.001. Hemoglobin levels also increased significantly (p-value = 0.001), and adherence to the consumption of iron supplement tablets influenced hemoglobin levels (p-value = 0.003).

Conclusion: Empowering cadres in primary health facilities is effective in increasing compliance with iron supplement tablets tablet consumption, which impacts hemoglobin levels in third-trimester pregnant women.

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