Household Food Security and Risk of Chronic Energy Deficiency among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Main Article Content
Oktaviani Yanti Zega
Jenni Susi Sihite
Mei Yati Simatupang
Background: Household food insecurity may limit pregnant women's access to sufficient and nutritious food. This study examined the association between household food security and the risk of chronic energy deficiency (CED) among pregnant women in Badiri District, Central Tapanuli Regency, Indonesia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2025 involving 50 pregnant women recruited through total sampling. Household food security was assessed using a questionnaire, and CED risk was classified as a mid-upper arm circumference <23.5 cm. Associations were examined using Pearson's chi-square test. The unadjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated from the contingency table.
Results: Twenty-two participants (44.0%) lived in food-insecure households, and 15 (30.0%) were classified as at risk of CED. The proportion at risk of CED was 50.0% in food-insecure households and 14.3% in food-secure households. Food insecurity was associated with a higher prevalence of CED risk (PR = 3.50; 95% CI: 1.29–9.50; χ² = 7.483; p = 0.006).
Conclusion: Household food insecurity was associated with CED risk among pregnant women in the study population. Integrating food-security screening, nutritional assessment, and support for food access into antenatal care should be considered. The cross-sectional design and lack of adjustment for confounders limits causal interpretation and generalizability.
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