Abstract
Anemia in pregnant women remains a serious public health problem. The main causes of anemia during pregnancy are generally associated with inadequate nutritional intake, particularly iron, folate, and protein. This study aimed to determine the relationship between protein and iron intake and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women in the working area of Tamalate Public Health Center. This study employed a quantitative observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The study population consisted of all pregnant women who underwent antenatal care examinations in June, totaling 114 pregnant women. The samples were selected using purposive sampling, with a total of 52 respondents determined using the Lemeshow formula, based on the inclusion criteria of pregnant women who underwent antenatal care (ANC) and hemoglobin examinations. Hemoglobin levels were obtained through measurements using the NubioN LifeCheck device, a digital hemoglobin testing device commonly used at the public health center. Data on protein and iron intake were collected through direct interviews using a Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ), which were subsequently converted into nutrient intake values. Data were analyzed using bivariate analysis with the Chi-Square test to determine the relationship between protein intake and iron intake and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women. The results showed a significant relationship between protein intake, iron intake, and hemoglobin levels among pregnant women, with a p-value of <0.000. The odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that pregnant women with inadequate protein intake had 65.625 times higher odds of experiencing anemia (95% CI: 10.915–394.550), while those with inadequate iron intake had 345.57 times higher odds of experiencing anemia (95% CI: 16.93–7,055.47) compared with those with adequate intake.
