A Comparative Study of Knowledge and Practice Regarding The 'Isi Piringku' Dietary Guidelines Among Women of Reproductive Age at Pasar Ikan Public Health Center, Bengkulu City

Abstrak

Women aged 15 to 49 are categorized as women of reproductive age (WRA), during which the reproductive system functions optimally to support pregnancy and childbirth. During this period, adequate and balanced nutrition is essential to maintain good health. Poor nutritional intake among WRA can lead to various issues such as iron deficiency anemia and chronic energy deficiency (CED), which may result in low birth weight (LBW), stunting in children, and an increased risk of maternal mortality. According to 2023 SKI data, the prevalence of CED among pregnant WRA decreased to 16.9%, while among non-pregnant WRA, it increased to 20.6%. However, many WRA are still unaware of the importance of balanced nutrition. This study aims to examine the differences in knowledge and practices before and after the "Isi Piringku" nutrition education among WRA at Pasar Ikan Public Health Center. A quantitative approach was used with a one-group pretest-posttest design. A total of 55 participants were selected using random sampling. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the data. The results showed a significant difference in knowledge and practices before and after the intervention, with a p-value of 0.000 (<0.005). Nutrition education significantly improved WRA’s knowledge and practice of balanced diets.