DETERMINANTS OF CHRONIC ENERGY DEFICIENCY AND LOW BODY MASS INDEX OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Background: The nutritional status of women in Indonesia tends to worsen. Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) showed that chronic energy deficiency (CED) among women of reproductive age increased from 13.6 percent in 2007 to 20.8 percent in 2013. Pregnant women who are lack of nutrition will have an impact on their babies. Objective: To determine the determinants of poor nutritional status which are CED and low body mass index (BMI) of pregnant women in Indonesia. Method: This study used 2013 Riskesdas data. The analysis was done using multivariate logistic regression. The total sample was 7236 pregnant women. Pregnant women with CED are those who have mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of less than 23.5 cm and BMI was measured by the Broca method approach. Results: The determinants of pregnant women with CED and low BMI are living in rural area (AOR 1.20; 95% CI [1.11-1.13]), age of <20 years (AOR 1.62; 95% CI [1.60-1.65]), having 1 child (AOR 2.04; 95% CI [2.022.06]), having low education (AOR 1.92; 95% CI [0.91-0.93]) and low economic status (AOR 3.36; 95% CI [3.313.41]). Conclusion: Education must be improved to at least high school degree, so that the mother's nutritional knowledge will increase, and early pregnancy will be prevented. Mothers with low economic status must be priority in maternal cervices and nutrition interventions.