Indonesia
Introduction: Anemia remains a major public health issue among women of reproductive age in Indonesia, particularly prospective brides. Fragmented health education, limited family involvement, and weak intersectoral collaboration have reduced the effectiveness of prevention programs. The Anemia-Free Integrated Network Approach (AFRINA) was developed as an integrated model combining digital health education, family engagement, and cross-sector collaboration to strengthen anemia prevention behavior.
Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of the AFRINA model in improving preventive behavior, family support, and motivation among prospective brides in Bengkulu, Indonesia.
Method: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design was applied to 74 prospective brides recruited from five district religious offices in Bengkulu City. Participants were divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received education through the AFRINA digital application, while the control group received conventional counseling. Data were collected from June to August 2025 and analyzed using Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests with a significance level of p<0.05.
Results: The AFRINA intervention significantly increased preventive behavior (mean difference = 9.81; p<0.001), family support (8.57; p<0.001), and motivation (8.17; p<0.001) compared to the control group. The improvements were higher in the intervention group, showing the model’s effectiveness in enhancing behavioral and psychosocial determinants of anemia prevention.
Conclusion: The AFRINA model, integrating digital communication, family engagement, and intersectoral collaboration, effectively improves preventive behavior, family support, and motivation among prospective brides. This model offers an innovative, scalable framework to strengthen premarital health programs and reduce anemia risk among women of reproductive age.