Effectiveness of daily educational message on pregnancy anemia prevention behavior and knowledge: A pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Distance education and mobile health (mHealth) usage are yet to be researched widely, particularly in terms of anemia prevention in Indonesian pregnant women. This study aimed to analyze the daily educational messages’ effectiveness on anemia prevention behavior and knowledge, in pregnant women in Surakarta City, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in two Primary Healthcare Centers in Surakarta in April-September 2022. The target population was pregnant women who conducted Antenatal Care at Primary healthcare Center. The sample was put into two randomized groups consisting of pregnant women in the first and second trimesters: intervention and control. This study included a total of 44 participants. The intervention was a daily educational message sent through WhatsApp for seven weeks. Measurement of anemia prevention knowledge, anemia prevention diet, and Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablet consumption was collected at the baseline and follow-up. RESULTS: The intervention resulted in a significant difference (P value .003) in mean IFA tablet consumption (last 42 days), which was higher in the intervention group (39.54 ± 3.94) than in the control group (34.86 ± 8.13). It has a significant effect on knowledge (P value .007) as well. However, no significant difference in the anemia prevention diet between groups at the end of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The daily educational message improves pregnant women's knowledge and IFA tablet consumption. Conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial is feasible to confirm the effectiveness of daily educational messages as a pregnant anemia prevention program, considering the needed improvements.