EFFECTIVENESS OF AN EDUCATIONAL SNAKES AND LADDERS GAME ON KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD ANEMIA PREVENTION AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstrak

The prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in Indonesia is currently estimated at 15.5%. This condition is associated with impaired immune function, reduced cognitive performance, and lower academic achievement. These outcomes are partly attributable to insufficient knowledge and suboptimal attitudes toward anemia prevention and management among adolescent girls. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention using an educational Snakes and Ladders game in improving knowledge and attitudes related to anemia prevention among adolescent girls at SMAN 14 Padang. A quasi-experimental quantitative design with a pretest–posttest non-equivalent control group was employed. A total of 66 female students were recruited and allocated into three groups: an educational Snakes and Ladders group, a leaflet group, and a control group. Data on knowledge and attitudes were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses included the paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon test, and Kruskal–Wallis test. Significant improvements were observed in both knowledge (p < 0.001) and attitudes (p < 0.001) among participants following nutrition education delivered through the educational Snakes and Ladders game and leaflets. Furthermore, significant differences in knowledge and attitudes were identified between the educational Snakes and Ladders group and the control group (p < 0.001). The gain scores for the educational Snakes and Ladders intervention were 0.9 (high) for knowledge and 0.4 (moderate) for attitudes, exceeding those achieved with the leaflet intervention. In conclusion, nutrition education delivered through the educational Snakes and Ladders game was more effective than leaflet-based education in enhancing knowledge and attitudes related to anemia prevention among adolescent girls.