Efficacy of Moringa Soy Milk as a Food-Based Intervention on Hemoglobin Levels in Anemic Pregnant Women: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Gorontalo, Indonesia

Background: Anemia remains a global health challenge, significantly contributing to adverse maternal and obstetric outcomes. Worldwide, its prevalence stands at 37%, rising to 48.9% in Indonesia according to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates. This study investigates the utilization of Moringa Soy Milk —an innovative, nutrient-dense intervention rich in iron, protein, vitamin C, and antioxidants—as a therapeutic strategy to address this public health issue. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Moringa soymilk supplementation, when administered concurrently with standard iron-folic acid, on improving hemoglobin (Hb) levels in pregnant women diagnosed with anemia. Methods: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group design. The sample comprised 66 pregnant women with anemia who were randomly divided into two groups of 33 respondents each. The intervention group received 250 mL of Moringa soymilk consumed once daily in the morning, along with a 60 mg iron-folic acid tablet administered at night, over a 30-day period. The control group received local supplementary food (such as sweet potatoes, bananas, or mung bean porridge), and the identical 60 mg iron-folic acid tablet nightly for 30 days. Hemoglobin levels were measured using a Nihon Kohden Celltac Alpha MEK-6510 hematology analyzer. Data analysis utilized paired t-tests to assess changes within groups and independent t-tests to compare the mean changes between the groups. Results: Baseline characteristics across the two groups—including age, education, occupation, parity, gestational age, and socioeconomic status —were found to be statistically homogeneous (p > 0.05). Prior to the intervention, the mean Hb level was 9.69 ± 0.69 g/dL in the intervention group and 9.70 ± 0.69 g/dL in the control group. Following the 30-day intervention period, the mean Hb level increased to 10.61 ± 0.38 g/dL in the intervention group and 10.44 ± 0.29 g/dL in the control group. The mean increase in the intervention group was 1.03 g/dL, which was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Similarly, the control group exhibited a mean increase of 0.73 g/dL, which was also statistically significant (p = 0.001). Crucially, the mean difference in the increase of Hb levels between the intervention and control groups was significantly higher in the intervention group (p = 0.047 < 0.05). Conclusion: The combined intervention of Moringa soymilk and standard iron supplementation yielded a significantly increased in hemoglobin levels and was statistically more effective than the administration of local supplementary food alongside iron supplement tablets. The findings of the present investigation support the integration of Moringa Soy Milk as an efficacious complementary dietary intervention for managing anemia in pregnant women Keywords: Moringa Soy Milk; Hemoglobin; Pregnant Women; Anemia; Food Intervention.