IBI Encourages Increasing Midwives To Identify Mother And Child Anemia Cases

JAKARTA - Anemia is still a serious challenge in the world of health, especially in groups that are vulnerable to iron deficiency anemia, namely children and pregnant women. According to Basic Health Research in 2018, 38.5% or 1 in 3 Indonesian children under the age of 5 experienced anemia.

Not only children, anemia or lack of blood in pregnant women in Indonesia are still relatively high, which is 48.9 percent. If this condition is not handled properly, anemia for iron deficiency can affect the health of children in the future.

By looking at this, the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) carries out a workshop with the theme 'Launching the Recommendation Initiative for Screening and Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia on Mothers and Children of Indonesia'. This workshop is held to commemorate World Iron Deficiency Day or World Iron Defficiency Day, which aims to increase the role of midwives in preventing anemia.

As a health service for mothers and children, Midwives have a strategic role in ensuring the health of mothers, children and families in Indonesia. Through this event, it is hoped that midwives will further recommend screening/artification early and prevention with the aim of reducing the rate of iron deficiency anemia in Indonesia.

"Through this activity, it is hoped that midwives will not only be tasked with providing health services for mothers and children, but also act as educators who convey important information, monitoring, education and routine screening such as the problem of iron deficiency anemia (ADB)," said Chairman of the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI), Dr. Ade Jubaedah, SSit., MM., MKM, in the Pasar Baru area, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

One of the risk factors that causes iron deficiency anemia in children is the lack of micro nutrients and consumption of iron-rich foods. Thus, a qualified screening process for Indonesian children who lack iron is needed.

Expert Community Medicine and Medical and Scientific Affairs Director of Danone SN Indonesia, Dr. dr. Ray Wagiu Basrowi, MKK, FRSPH., said that non-invasive screening could be an answer to monitoring iron intake.

The screening is done on a questionnaire basis, which can be the initial reference for identifying iron deficiency anemia.

We see that screening of iron deficiency anemia is the key to reduce the prevalence of anemia in Indonesia, especially for mothers and children. Therefore, non-invasive screening in the form of monitoring the intake of iron based on questionnaires can be an initial choice of identification solutions for the risk of iron deficiency anemia that can be carried out by health workers, including midwives in primary health care facilities," continued Doctor Ray.