Jurnal Sipakatau
Vol. 3 No. 5 (2026): August

Effectiveness of Reproductive Health Gymnastics on Hemoglobin Levels among Female Midwifery Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study at Bhakti Asih Polytechnic Purwakarta

Lia Yulianti (Politeknik Bhakti Asih Purwakarta)
Devita Zakirman (Politeknik Bhakti Asih Purwakarta)
Ruciah Ruciah (Politeknik Bhakti Asih Purwakarta)



Article Info

Publish Date
27 Aug 2026

Abstract

Background: Anemia remains an important health concern among adolescent girls and young women. Reproductive Health Gymnastics (RHG) may offer a complementary physical-activity approach, but evidence regarding its short-term association with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration is limited. Objective: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness of RHG in increasing Hb concentration among female midwifery students at Bhakti Asih Polytechnic Purwakarta. Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control-group study included 64 first-year female midwifery students selected by purposive sampling and analyzed in an RHG group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 32). The RHG group participated in a 12-day structured program comprising aerobic movements, stretching, core-muscle strengthening, breathing exercises, and pelvic-rocking movements delivered with standardized video guidance and monitored using a compliance logbook; the control group continued routine activities. Capillary Hb was measured before and after the intervention using an Easy Touch GCHb digital hemoglobin meter. Because Hb data were non-normally distributed, within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and between-group differences in Hb change (posttest minus pretest) using the Mann-Whitney U test (two-sided alpha = 0.05). The study record did not retain the original nonrandom allocation mechanism, a priori sample-size calculation, or complete intervention-dose and Hb-standardization details; these limitations are reported explicitly rather than reconstructed retrospectively. Results: The reported mean Hb increase was 1.38 g/dL in the RHG group and 0.14 g/dL in the control group, corresponding to an unadjusted arithmetic difference in mean change of 1.24 g/dL. The intervention group showed a significant pretest-posttest change (Wilcoxon Z = -4.953; p < 0.001; rank-based r = 0.88). The between-group comparison of Hb change was reported as significant (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). However, the archived study record does not retain group-specific absolute pretest and posttest Hb summaries, SD/IQR or range values, the control-group Wilcoxon output, the Mann-Whitney U statistic and exact p-value, or 95% confidence intervals. These unavailable statistics were not reconstructed, and the precision and clinical significance of the comparative effect therefore remain incompletely quantified. Conclusion: In this single-institution sample of first-year female midwifery students, participation in a 12-day RHG program was associated with a greater short-term increase in measured Hb concentration than routine activities. The finding should be interpreted cautiously given the quasi-experimental design, short follow-up, and incomplete control of potential confounding factors.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

Sipakatau

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Computer Science & IT Engineering Environmental Science Health Professions Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Library & Information Science Mathematics Nursing Physics Social Sciences Veterinary Other

Description

1. Social Sciences, Economics, Psychology, Tourism, and Community Development Coaching and mentoring for leadership, performance improvement, and community empowerment Psychological and behavioral dimensions of community programs including motivation, behavior change, and ethics Volunteerism ...