Hubungan Status Gizi, Asupan Zat Besi dan Vitamin C dengan Siklus Menstruasi pada Mahasiswi di Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat USU

Abstract

An abnormal menstrual cycle can affect a woman's physical, emotional and reproductive health. The menstrual cycle is influenced by several factors such as nutritional status, nutrient intake, physical activity, stress, drugs and diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between nutritional status, iron and vitamin C intake with menstrual cycle in female students at Faculty of Public Health Universitas Sumatera Utara. This research method is analytical with a cross-sectional approach. This study was conducted at the USU Faculty of Public Health with a sample of 189 female students of the 2024 intake using a simple random sampling technique. Nutritional status was categorized based on BMI/A. Nutritional intake (iron and vitamin C) was obtained using a 24-hour food recall form processed with nutrisurvey. Menstrual cycle data was obtained by filling out the questionnaire. The results of the study using the chi-square test showed a significant relationship between nutritional status and the menstrual cycle (p = 0.0001) where there was a tendency for female students with abnormal nutritional status (undernutrition, overnutrition, and obesity) to experience an abnormal cycle, namely 15 polymenorrhea and 29 oligomenorrhea. There is a significant relationship between iron and menstrual cycle (p = 0.0001) where female students with low iron category tend to experience irregular cycles, namely 29 people experience polymenorrhea and 40 people experience oligomenorrhea. There is a significant relationship between vitamin C and menstrual cycle (p = 0.0001) where female students with low vitamin C category tend to experience irregular cycles, namely 26 people have polymenorrhea and 37 people have oligomenorrhea. It is hoped that the results of this study can provide information and education to female students to pay more attention to balanced and varied nutritional intake so that menstrual cycles are regular.