KEMAS 13 (1) (2017) 28-34 Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/kemas THE ROLE OF HUSBAND IN ASSISTING WIFE WHO SUFFER ANEMIA IN PREGNANCY Angelina da Costa Fernandes  , Felysianus Sanga, Sabina Gero Universitas Nusa Cendana, Kupang, Indonesia Info Artikel Article History: Submitted May 2016 Accepted July 2016 Published July 2017 Keywords: Role; Husband; Knowl- edge; Anemia; Pregnancy DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.15294/ kemas.v13i1.5955 country occurred during pregnancy. WHO reported 37-75% (50% average) of pregnant women have anemia in developing country and 18% of pregnant women have anemia in developed country. Te prevalence of anemia in pregnant women worldwide is 38%. National data collection of anemia in pregnancy showed 28% prevalence. Terefore, anemia in pregnancy in Timor-Leste is considered moderate level of health problem, which need to be noticed. Te prevalence of anemia in pregnancy for Municipio Dili (Dili Regency) is 16.7%. Te prevalence of anemia is higher in the rural area (22%) than in the urban area (19%). According to Timor-Leste Demography and Health Survey, iron defciency anemia is one of the most common nutritional problem (TLDHS 2009/10). Introduction Anemia in pregnancy will afect the health and welfare of women. It also increases the risk of harm for mother and children. Anemia in pregnancy is also called “Potential danger of mother and child.” Anemia contributes bad impact for pregnancy, labor, and perpurium. Te most common cause of anemia in pregnancy is lack of balanced nutritional consumption, especially iron defciency. A wife will be able to undergo her pregnancy safely if the husband has the knowledge regarding anemia, its cause, and its management. Teir lack of knowledge about anemia will afect the health of their wife, because the decision and action of the husband will afect the life of his wife. Te highest proportion of anemia in women both in developed or developing Abstract Problem in anemia which is commonly sufered by pregnant women is iron defciency due to unbalanced nutrition. A qualitative research with Ethnomethodology approach. Participants were pregnant women who are anemic with Hemoglobin levels (Hb) less than 11g/dl. 38 of participants consisting of 19 husbands as focus groups and 19 wives as triangulation group obtained through purposive sampling technique. Data obtained through the method of focus groups discussion and in-depth interview, analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques.Te result showed that the husband’s role in assisting the wife who sufered from anemia in pregnancy is lacking due to lack of husbnd knowledge about anemia, its causes and how to deal with anemia in pregnancy. Te conclusion is the role of husband in assisting wife in pregnancy should be supported with husband’s good knowledge about anemia, its causes and how to deal with anemia in pregnancy in order to prevent anemia in their wives’ pregnancies.  Correspondece Address: Rua Balide, Dili, Timor Leste Email : angelinagraca.fernandes04@gmail.com pISSN 1858-1196 eISSN 2355-3596