The Effect of Family Approach Model Education and Zinc Supplementation on Pregnant Women with Chronic Energy Lack from Poor Family

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women’s health and nutritional status must be maintained because they are indicators of perinatal growth and neonatal welfare; efforts to prevent fetal growth disorders must begin with pregnant women, one of which is through increased knowledge and nutritional supplementation. AIM: This study aimed to examine the effect of family-based education and zinc supplementation on knowledge, weight, upper arm circumference, nutritional intake, serum zinc levels, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), hemoglobin, infant anthropometry, and placenta in stunted pregnant women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quasi-experiment with a pre-post-test control design was carried out from September 2020 to June 1, 2021, in four areas of the Mamuju Regency City Health Center. The subject population is pregnant women aged 20–26 weeks gestation, experiencing chronic energy deficiency. RESULTS: The mean knowledge increased in the intervention group with a rate of change of 133.57%, while the control group did not experience a significant increase. Unpaired t-test showed a significant difference in the mean serum zinc, IGF-1, and hemoglobin levels with p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation is very beneficial for pregnant women, especially teenage pregnant women who have chronic energy deficiency, but the results of zinc supplementation are better accompanied by providing education based on a family approach, as a form of community support system for mothers, because family diet has a strong impact on pregnant women diet.