Impact of nutrition mentoring by dietetic students on knowledge, dietary intake, and nutritional status in pregnant women with chronic energy deficiency in South Sulawesi

Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) in pregnant women raises the risk of premature birth and low birth weight (LBW). This study evaluates the effectiveness of nutrition mentoring by dietetic students on the knowledge, intake, and nutritional status of pregnant women in Makassar and Maros, South Sulawesi. Conducted as part of the 2023 Dietitian Professional Education Program at Makassar Health Polytechnic, the study used a pretest-posttest design without a control group. Nutrition mentoring was provided through home visits three times a week for two weeks, involving 122 pregnant women with CED. Data were collected via structured interviews and 24-hour recalls, then analyzed using SPSS. The results showed significant improvements: nutrition knowledge increased from 49.9 to 88.6, and energy, protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake rose significantly (p<0.05). Upper arm circumference improved from 21.79 cm to 22.22 cm, with an average weight gain of 1.0 kg (p<0.001). Post-intervention, 32.8% of women shifted from CED to normal nutritional status. Nutrition mentoring by dietetic students effectively enhanced knowledge, nutrient intake, and nutritional status in this population.