Strengthening Food Security Reduces The Anemic Status of Pregnant Women and Encourages Breastfeeding Immediately after Delivery in the Coastal Area of Central Tapanuli

According to WHO and UNICEF recommendations, one way to prevent stunting is exclusive breastfeeding until the baby is six months old. The aim of the study was to strengthen family food security through local food and nutrition literacy using behavior-based nutrition education methods (social cognitive theory). This type of research is called action research. The research subjects were 30 pregnant women who came from food-insecure families and had incomes below the minimum wage. Prior to the intervention, the consumption
of pregnant women was measured using a 24-hour food recall and measurements
of haemoglobin levels. For 12 weeks, community health professionals provided home visits and face-to-face lectures for pregnant women on local food literacy and nutrition interventions. Pregnant women consumed an average of 1926.3 calories prior to the intervention, 2315.2 calories were consumed after the intervention. Before the intervention, there were 19 pregnant women with anaemia (63.3%), after the intervention, there were only 4 (13.3%). There were 20 breastfeeding mothers (66.7%) on the first day. Pregnant women's nutrient consumption and dietary diversity increased as a result of the local food literacy and nutrition intervention, which was implemented for 4 months