Nutrition Education During Pregnancy as an Effort to Prevent Stunting and the Distribution of Chewy Iron Supplements

Abstract

Background: A crucial upstream prevention effort involves ensuring that pregnant women are free from Chronic Energy Malnutrition (CEM) and anemia, conditions that restrict placental vascularization, lead to fetal hypoxia, and trigger Low Birth Weight (LBW), a primary biological precursor to stunting. However, compliance with Iron-Folic Acid (IFA) tablet consumption in communities, remains low due to side effects like nausea and a metallic taste. Objective: This community service activity aimed to enhance pregnant women's knowledge regarding the dangers of maternal CEM and anemia while introducing an innovative iron supplement in the form of chewy candies to minimize nausea and improve intake compliance. Method: The activity was conducted on April 30, 2026, at the Ciawi Gajah Village, targeting 11 pregnant women, the majority of whom were primigravida (63.6%) and housewives (100%). The strategy utilized leaflet-assisted interactive education combined with a distribution and taste-testing session of chewy iron supplements. The intervention was systematically evaluated using a quantitative pre-test and post-test design for knowledge, along with a qualitative assessment of the participants' subjective responses to the supplement. Result: The results demonstrated a highly significant shift in the participants' knowledge; during the pre-test, the majority possessed moderate (54.5%) or low (36.4%) knowledge, but post-intervention, 81.8% of the pregnant women achieved the high knowledge category, with 0% remaining in the low category. Furthermore, 100% of the participants reported that the chewy iron supplement had an appealing taste and triggered no nausea. Conclusion: Interactive education effectively strengthens cognitive awareness among pregnant women, particularly primigravidas. Moreover, the utilization of innovative chewy candy iron supplements serves as a highly potential, strategic solution to overcome gastrointestinal barriers and improve iron adherence at the community level to prevent stunting from the gestational phase.