The Effect of Drinking Tea to the Anemia among Elderly in Bandung

The objective of this study is to know the effect of tea to anemia iron deficiency among elderly people. The study population is the elderly people in Bandung City. The sampling was 132 elderly that were selected randomly in Sub District of Cicendo year 2005. Method of measuring hemoglobin is the sianmethemoglobin and the drinking tea was measured by 1 x 24 hours food record for seven days. The data was analysis using multiple logistic regression. The results of this study shows that rate of anemia among elderly people in Bandung is 47,7% (95%CI = 39%—56%) and about half of the elderly (49%) drinking tea every day (95%CI = 40%—58%). The elderly who drink tea every day have risk for anemia 92 times higher compared than those who did not drink tea (ORadj = 91.8, 95% CI = 8—221) after controlled for protein intake. If the drinking tea habit among elderly could be changed, the anemia could be reduced by 85% i.e. from 47.7% become 7.3%. In order to decrease anemia, it’s suggested to reduce their drinking tea habit or increase their protein intake. However, due to lack of their teeth’s functioning and low of their economic status, reducing their drinking tea habit is the best choice to decrease anemia among elderly.