CEMARA (CEGAH ANEMIA, REMAJA BAHAGIA): EFFECTIVENESS OF IRON SUPPLEMENTATION TABLET (TABLET TAMBAH DARAH/TTD) IN ANEMIA PREVENTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS AT SMPN 58 MALUKU TENGAH

Abstrak

Background: Anemia in adolescent girls remains a significant public health challenge in Indonesia, with prevalence rates particularly elevated in eastern regions including Maluku. Iron deficiency anemia impairs cognitive function, academic performance, and physical development during the critical growth period. Iron Supplementation Tablet (Tablet Tambah Darah/TTD) distribution represents the national strategy to address this issue. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the CEMARA (Cegah Anemia, Remaja Bahagia) program through TTD provision on anemia prevention knowledge among adolescent girls at SMPN 58 Maluku Tengah. Methods: A pre-experimental one-group pre-test post-test design was employed involving 27 female students aged 12–18 years. Knowledge was assessed using a 10-item validated questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.78) before and after the CEMARA intervention comprising three weekly sessions. Data were analyzed using paired t-test. Results: Mean knowledge scores improved significantly from 5.26 (SD ± 1.87) at pre-test to 8.30 (SD ± 0.91) at post-test. The proportion of students with good knowledge (score ≥8) increased from 7.4% to 85.2% following the intervention. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference [t(26) = 14.461, p < 0.001]. Conclusion: The CEMARA program with TTD provision significantly improved adolescent knowledge regarding anemia prevention. Structured school-based interventions combining health education and iron supplementation are effective strategies for anemia prevention among adolescent girls.