THE EFFECT OF MATERNAL NUTRITIONAL STATUS (KEK) BASED ON MID-UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE AND BODY MASS INDEX ON BIRTH WEIGHT AT LAMURUKUNG HEALTH CENTER

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the global prevalence of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) in pregnancy is 35-75%, with a significantly higher prevalence in the third trimester compared to the first and second trimesters. Moreover, 40% of maternal deaths in developing countries are associated with chronic energy deficiency. The 2020 Performance Report of the Ministry of Health showed that the number of pregnant women at risk of CED in 34 provinces reached 9.7% of 4,656,382 pregnant women. The prevalence of CED among pregnant women in South Sulawesi is 13.8%, placing the province 10th among the 34 provinces in Indonesia. The consequences of CED in pregnant women include anemia, the risk of premature birth, impaired fetal brain development, low birth weight, and an increased risk of stunting. This study aims to investigate the impact of the nutritional status of pregnant women with CED, based on mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and body mass index (BMI), on birth weight at Lamurukung Health Center from January to December 2023. This retrospective cohort study used KIA cohort data, and statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. The majority of women with abnormal MUAC and BMI had babies with low birth weight. The chi-square test results indicated a p-value of 0.000, signifying a significant relationship between the nutritional status of pregnant women with CED, based on MUAC and BMI, and birth weight. It is hoped that midwives will enhance education and counseling for pregnant women on the importance of maintaining proper nutritional intake during pregnancy.