Improving Hemoglobin Level with Increasing Copper, Cobalamin, and Iron Intake of Pregnant Women

Abstract

Over the past five years, there has been a dramatic increase in anemia problems among pregnant women in Indonesia. Almost half (48.9%) of pregnant women in Indonesia have anemia. Further research is needed to explore the role of additional nutritional deficiencies that cause anemia in Indonesia, apart from iron deficiency. The aim of this research was to determine the characteristics and nutrient intakes affecting pregnant women’s hemoglobin levels. A cross-sectional study was carried out from May to October 2019 on 60 pregnant women at Public Health Center Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta. The independent variables were pregnant women’s characteristics, intake of energy, protein, folate, vitamin B6, B12 (cobalamin), C, E, iron, copper, and calcium. The dependent variable was hemoglobin level. Multiple regression using dummy variables was used for multivariate analysis. The average age is 28.3+5.5 years old, with no mothers being of risky age. The average hemoglobin (Hb) level is 11.5+1.4 g/dL. The majority of women are in their third trimester (42%). The variables that significantly affect hemoglobin levels are the intake of iron, vitamin B12, and copper. Increasing the intake of iron, vitamin B12, and copper effectively improves hemoglobin levels among pregnant women. It is recommended to provide iron tablets in multi-nutrient form, and further research is needed for its effectiveness.