Effectiveness of Family-Based Nutritional Assistance in Preventing Chronic Energy Deficiency in Pregnant Women
Main Article Content
Friska Apriani Sihombing
Mei Yati Simatupang
Fitri Khoiriyah
Background: Chronic energy deficiency during pregnancy requires interventions that support household dietary practices. This study evaluated changes in mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), nutrition knowledge, family support, and the reported proportion of women at risk after family-based nutrition support.
Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control-group pretest–posttest study was conducted in Pasir Field, Central Tapanuli, Indonesia, in 2025. Sixty pregnant women were recruited through total sampling, with 30 participants per group. The intervention group received eight weeks of family-based nutrition support, while controls received routine care. Results were summarized descriptively.
Results: Mean MUAC increased from 22.62 ± 0.82 to 23.78 ± 0.81 cm in the intervention group and from 23.02 ± 0.85 to 23.18 ± 0.90 cm in controls. Mean changes were 1.16 and 0.16 cm, respectively, yielding a descriptive between-group difference in changes of 1.00 cm. Intervention-group knowledge scores increased from 56.8 to 80.9, and family-support scores from 55.0 to 80.7. The reported at-risk proportion decreased from 83.3% to 30.0% in the intervention group and from 66.7% to 60.0% in controls.
Conclusion: Family-based nutrition support showed more favorable descriptive changes in maternal nutritional indicators and family support. Establishing effectiveness requires verification of between-group analyses, adjustment for baseline differences, and control of confounding.
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