The Effects of Anemic Controlling and Prevention Program on Health Behaviors and Anemia of Reproductive Age Women at a Workplace in Thungsong district, Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a major health problem that affects both health and work performance. But lack of comprehensive care policy for non-pregnant reproductive age women. Most of them are in business establishments. This establishment found that the anemic prevalence of reproductive age women (20-45 years) was 23 percent, which near by the global prevalence.

Objective: To study the effects of the anemic controlling and prevention program on health behaviors and anemia of reproductive age women in an establishment in Thungsong District.

Materials and Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental research one group pre-posttest design. The sample were 61 reproductive age female employees (20-45 years), selected by purposive sampling group, studied for 12 weeks (25 April - 18 July 2023). The program is developed by Health belief model and Social support theories. Classify the sample into normal groups (Hb≥ 12 g/dL: received iron supplements once a week) and anemic group (Hb< 12 g/dL: received iron supplements every day). Both groups received educational pamphlets, training to adjust eating habits, received once a week of Folic acid and 1 time of Albendazole, then followed up at 12 weeks. The collect data tools were questionnaires about general knowledge, attitudes, and self-assessment of health behavior in Preventing iron deficiency anemia which were checked by 3 experts that CVI equal to 1. The Reliability Index were 0.787, 0.821, and 0.761, respectively. Anemia was assessed by Hemoglobin and Hematocrit. Data were analyzed by the SPSS program using descriptive statistics (Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation). Paired t-test Compare pre-post differences and Mc Nemar test compare pre-post Anemic Prevalence. Statistics significance was set at 0.05.

Result: After the trial, the sample group had knowledge, attitude, health behavior, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit were significantly higher than pre-experiment (p<0.05). The post-experiment of anemic prevalence were significantly decrease 16.4% lower than pre-experiment (p<0.05).

Conclusion: This program can be used to change dietary habits and iron supplements to reduce anemia of reproductive age women.