The effect of nutrition education based on hybrid model on iron deficiency anemia and upper arm circumference among female students

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of nutrition education on anemia and upper arm circumference in adolescent women. A total of 97 adolescent women participated in the cluster-randomized control study. The nutrition education intervention, which included both offline and online sessions, made use of a self-created booklet and was delivered by trained nutrition education personnel. Data on socio-demographics were obtained through the interview method. Nutritional status was determined by measuring upper arm circumference (MUAC), and anemia was diagnosed by health personnel after blood hemoglobin levels were examined. The chi-square test and paired and independent t-tests were used to analyze the data. When compared to the control group, nutrition education using booklets showed significant differences in the parameters of knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, reinforcing factors, supporting factors, and anemia prevention behavior with each p-value of 0.05. However, the intervention group's hemoglobin level increased more than the control groups. MUAC in the intervention group increased by 0.31 cm, while in the control group it increased by 0.3 cm. However, the difference in difference (DID) analysis did not show a significant difference between the two parameters (p=0.296 and p=0.084). Nutrition education for two months did not increase mean hemoglobin or LILA significantly. However, given the decreasing trend of anemia and the prevalence of CED in the intervention group, structured and routine nutrition education can be implemented as part of nutritional interventions in teenagers to prevent anemia and CED, allowing for long-term effects of interventions to be seen.