Socio-Cultural and behavioral effects on the incidence of anemia in pregnant mothers

This study discusses deeply the effect of pregnant mother behaviors on the anemia incidence. This is a qualitative case study with a purposive sampling, located in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. The key informants were pregnant mothers, husbands, midwives and religion and community leaders. The results showed that pregnant mothers visited health servicesin the second trime sterof pregnancy and they did not consume Iron tabletsas they experienced side effects like nausea and others. In addition, they believe that consumind Iron tablets canenlarge the fetal and result in hardlabor. The study showed that pregnant mothers were exposed to smoking from surrounding people in particular from husbands. Several pregnant mothers still believe to avoid a certain type of food such as Maringa plant, crabsand others. The behaviors such as negligence in the first trimester examination, lack of regular Iron consumpitons, exposure to smoking and food restrictions during pregnancy can result inanemia and a fetal death. Therefore, the government needs to improve antenatal counseling service and provide socialisaction to the healthy behaviors of pregnant mothers in order to prevent anemia.