Potential Effect of Pitaya Fruit Juice (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) As an Anti-anemic Agent for Postpartum Anemia

Abstract

Background: Postpartum mothers are susceptible to anemia, due to loss of blood during labor. Postpartum anemia causes uterine subinvolution which results in postpartum hemorrhage, puerperium infection, decreases in breastfeeding and mammae infection. One alternative to prevent the occurrence of anemia in post partum s to consume fruit that contains iron and vitamin C is one pitaya fruit juice. Pitaya fruit (Pitaya fruit) is part of the non-heme iron sources needed to supply hemoglobin, hematocrit and erythrocytes. This study aimed to examine the effect of pitaya fruit juice consumption on the increase of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte levels. Subjects and Method: This was a quasy experiment conducted at Bumiaji health center. A sample of 32 postpartum mothers with anemia was selected for this study. The dependent variable was hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte levels. The independent variable was pitaya fruit juice administration. The data were analyzed by paired t-test. Results: Hemoglobin level in the intervention group (mean= 11.27; SD= 0.85) was higher than control group (mean= 10.34; SD= 0.94) and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Hematocrit level in the intervention group (mean= 36.78; SD= 3.17) was higher than control group (mean= 34.98; SD= 2.32) and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Erythrocyte level in the intervention group (mean= 4.28; SD= 0.26) was higher than control group (mean= 3.97; SD= 0.36) and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte levels are higher in the intervention group than control group and they are statistically significant. Keywords: pitaya fruit juice, hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte, postpartum mother, anemia  Correspondence:  Mufida Annisa Rahmawati. Masters of Applied Midwifery, Health Polytechnics Ministry of Health Semarang. Jl. Tirto Agung, Pedalangan, Banyumanik, Semarang 50239, Central Java. Mobile: +6281249674231. Indonesian Journal of Medicine (2019), 4(4): 293-299 https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2019.04.04.01