Anemia causes complications and increases the risk of infection

VIVA – In the midst of the current global health challenges, the issue of meeting malnutrition is still a long-term health threat to the people of Indonesia. Nutritional problems, whether malnutrition or more, can increase susceptibility to other diseases, especially the risk of non-communicable diseases.

According to 2018 Riskesdas data, numbers stunting we reach 30.8 percent and have reached the 4th rank in the world. Meanwhile, 48.9 percent of pregnant women, 32 percent of adolescents 15-24 years, and 38.5 percent of children under five experienced anemia. Globally, about 50-60 percent of anemia rates are caused by iron deficiency or commonly known as Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA).

In the public webinar ‘The Role of Nutrition in Cross Generational Challenges held by Danone Indonesia, Clinical Nutrition Specialist from the Indonesian Nutrition Association (INA), Dr. dr. Diana Sunardi, M.Gizi., Sp.GK, explained that currently Indonesia is still facing three burdens of nutritional problems (triple burden) namely stunting, wasting and obesity, as well as micronutrient deficiencies such as anemia.

“A person with Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is at risk of giving birth baby low body weight (LBW), stunting, complications during childbirth and other risks. Even though the ADB condition itself can occur across generations and can be passed down from adolescence, pregnant women, children and so on, “he said during a webinar, Monday, February 1, 2021.

Doctor Diana added that in the case of toddlers and children, ADB started from a lack of micronutrients in the first 1000 days of life (HPK). The impact affects the growth and development of children who are impaired, decreased physical activity and creativity, and decreased endurance, thereby increasing the risk of infection. Whereas in the case of adolescents, ADB could reduce productivity and academic ability.

“ADB’s condition in adolescent pregnancy is also vulnerable to the safety and health of mothers and babies. Therefore, the urgency of improving public nutrition should be focused on 1,000 HPK and adolescents,” he said.

Big threat

Diana explained that the ADB conditions that occur in sufferers have short-term and long-term effects for each generation. If we draw a common thread, this condition is a big threat considering its impact on the decline in the quality of human resources in the future.

“On the other hand, the state is required to be able to create a generation with global competitiveness. So there is an urgency to break the chain of anemia across generations,” he said.

Furthermore, Diana said, intervention through the fulfillment of nutrition and education as a whole is an effort that can be done in breaking the chain of anemia, both in the scope of individuals, families, groups, and communities.

“For children over one year old, anemia prevention can be done by providing balanced nutrition, including foods and beverages containing iron and other micronutrients that support the absorption of iron such as vitamin C,” he said.

Meanwhile, for adolescents, according to Diana, this can be done through the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle, namely eating clean, healthy and nutritionally balanced foods.

“In addition, blood added tablet (TTD) supplementation can also be given. Blood-added tablets are nutritional supplements with iron content equivalent to 60 mg of elemental iron and 400 mcg of folic acid,” he said.

Meanwhile, Danone Indonesia’s Corporate Communication Director, Arif Mujahidin, said that they provide nutritional innovations that can help fulfill iron and support iron absorption in children over one year old.

“To target adolescents, we collaborated with the Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) to launch a guidebook for Healthy Generation of Indonesia (GESID),” he said.

According to Arif, there are three modules for junior high and high school adolescents, namely I Care, I’m Healthy, and I’m Responsible, which discuss reproductive health, the role of nutrition for health and quality of life, anemia for girls and women of childbearing age, prevention of early marriage, and youth with character.

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