Interaction of protein intake and number of family members as a risk factor for chronic energy deficiency in women of childbearing age.

Background: Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) is a condition in which the body is underweight or thin and the body has insufficient reserves of energy intake, this condition occurs due to a lack of nutrients. A person's condition can be said to be CED if the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is low or < 23,5 cm. Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) who experience CED will have an impact on pregnancy. Based on the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) the percentage of CED in pregnancy globally is 35-75% and deaths in developing countries related to CED are 40%.

Methods: Research design Descriptive analytic cross-sectional approach. The population WRA with a population of 7,183 the sample being 143 WRA. The analysis is univariate, bivariate (Chi-square), and multivariate (Regression Logistic).

Results: Found that the determinants of CED were factors affecting CED for WRA in the Kandang Health Center in Bengkulu City in 2023 are age (p-value = 0.018; ORa95% CI=2,495: 1.171-5.317), energy intake (p-value = 0.013; ORa95% CI = 2.990: 1.256-7.117), and the interaction of protein intake by several family members (p-value = 0.03; ORa 95%CI = 21.327: 1.343-338.671). The dominant factor is the interaction between protein intake and the number of family members. WRA with large families when protein intake is not enough risk 21 times to experience chronic lack of energy compared to adequate protein intake.

Conclusions: Health workers need to make promotive and preventive efforts that can be done through community empowerment through health education about nutritional intake and family planning, so WRA understands about prevention of Chronic Energy Deficiency.