The Effectiveness of Nutritional Educational Comics in Increasing haemoglobin Level among Anemic Adolescent Girls
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of comic-based nutrition education in increasing haemoglobin (Hb) levels in adolescent girls with anaemia by improving their energy, protein, vitamin C, calcium, iron, zinc, and folic acid intake. Methods: A pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental design was used. Over four months, nutrition education was delivered through the comic Balanced Nutrition, Lost Anaemia as an intervention for nutritional problems. Nutritional issues were assessed via 24-hour dietary recalls and six-day food records, analyzed using Nutrisurvey 2008 and Linear Programming. Effectiveness was measured by comparing energy, folic acid, and zinc intake using paired t-tests, and protein, iron, vitamin C intake, and Hb levels using the Wilcoxon test, before and after the intervention. The study was conducted at an Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Malang, Indonesia. A total of 84 adolescent girls with anaemia (Hb <12 g/dL) were included. Hb levels were validated via venous blood examination using cyanometry. Results: After nutrition education, participants had significantly higher energy, protein, and vitamin C intake (P <0.001) and increased Hb levels (P <0.001). Among the participants, 69 (82.15%) achieved normal Hb levels. Conclusion: Nutrition education using comics with colorful images facilitates understanding and application of nutritional guidance, effectively increasing nutrient intake and reducing the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls.
Source: Acta Medica Philippina
Institutions: Poltekkes Kemenkes Malang, University of Indonesia
Language: English
Topic: Public Health and Nutrition
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7220839788