HUBUNGAN KETERATURAN PENGKONSUMSIAN TABLET FE DAN ASAM FOLAT DENGAN BERAT BADAN LAHIR RENDAH PADA BAYI BARU LAHIR

Introduction: Low birth weight (BBLR) is one of the important indicators of newborn health which is closely related to an increased risk of neonatal morbidity and mortality. In Indonesia, the prevalence of BBLR shows variations based on data sources. According to the 2022 Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey (SSGI), the prevalence of LBW reached 6.0%. One of the maternal factors that contribute to the incidence of LBW is anemia during pregnancy. Data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia in 2019 shows that the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women reached 48.9%. Anemia in pregnant women can increase the risk of developing LBW due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients necessary for fetal growth. To overcome the problem of anemia in pregnant women, the government has implemented a program of supplementation of iron (Fe) and folic acid tablets.
Objective: to analyze the relationship between regular consumption of Fe tablets and folic acid and the incidence of LBW in newborns.
Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design involving 100 maternal respondents who had babies under 3 years old. Data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the Chi-Square Test.
Results: The analysis of the results of the Chi-square test showed that there was a significant relationship between regular consumption of Fe tablets and LBW, with a value of p = 0.015, which showed that mothers who were irregular in consuming Fe tablets had a 3.567 times greater risk of giving birth to babies with LBW compared to regular mothers. However, no significant relationship was found between regular folic acid consumption and LBW (p = 0.723).
Conclusion: There is a relationship between the regularity of Fe tablet consumption during pregnancy to prevent LBW, although the study did not find a direct relationship between folic acid consumption and LBW, it is important to continue to encourage folic acid consumption as an integral part of holistic pregnancy care and prevention of other complications in newborns. This study is expected to provide insight for health workers and the community regarding the importance of proper nutritional intake during pregnancy to improve maternal and infant health.