Determinants of adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation among postnatal mothers in Addis Ababa referral hospitals, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation is extremely low. There were only 5% who took more than 90 tablets during their pregnancy. However, only limited data is available on the determinant factors of non-adherence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify determinants of adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation among postnatal mothers in three referral hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: An institutional based unmatched case-control study was conducted on 240 women who have been at postnatal care. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiData and SPSS version 20.0, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to identify the determinants at p-value < 0.25 and < 0.05, respectively.Results: The major determinant factors of adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation were, mothers age group 29-33 [AOR=1.66, 95% CI: 2.010-0.0492], ANC initiation time [AOR=4.21, 95% CI: 2.3-10.6], counseling on IFAS [AOR=3.89, 95% CI: 1.8-8.4], time taken to travel to health facility [AOR=3.17,95% CI:1.35-7.4], gravidity [AOR=2.08,95% CI:1.06-4.09], morning sickness [AOR 0.33, 95% CI: 0.15-0.69] and planned pregnancy [AOR=4.2, 95% CI: 1.6-10.9].Conclusion: This study highlighted age of participants, planned pregnancy, antenatal care initiation time, morning sickness, gravidity, counseling and distance to health facility are the key factors that have independently associate with adherence. Counseling should be given for clients on the correct dosage and duration of supplementation to prevent anemia and neural tube defects.