<p>Time to start and adherence to iron-folate supplement for pregnant women in antenatal care follow up; Northern Ethiopia</p>

Abstract

Background Iron folate supplementation is a cost-effective way of reducing iron deficiency anemia, low birth weight, and neural tube defects in resource-limited countries like Ethiopia. Late to start and poor adherence to iron-folate supplement has restricted its effectiveness. The aim of this study was to determine the time to start and adherence level of iron-folate supplementation to pregnant women attending at the Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods Two hundred pregnant women were recruited in cross-sectional study design between February and April 2018. Results From the total participant pregnant women the urban dweller constituted the major proportion of 182 (91%). Seventy-eight (39%) of the participants had two antenatal care visits, whereas only, 21 (10.5%) of them had an antenatal care visit three and above. One hundred fifty-five (77.5%) participants women had knowledge about the cause of anemia in pregnancy. In this study, 143 (71.5%) of the pregnant women started their iron folate supplement in the second and third trimester. The adherence of iron folate intake was 10.5%. Healthcare education and counseling about iron-folate supplementation (AOR =4.55, 95% CI =[1.534, 13.512]), number of pregnancies (AOR =6.941, 95% CI =[1.511, 31.09]), and number of antenatal visit (AOR =0.242, 95% CI =[0.069, 0.852]) were significantly associated with adherence to iron-folate supplementation. Conclusion Time to start iron folate supplement in the first trimester was low and the adherence level was also very poor, which can be attributed by the number of antenatal care visits, frequency of pregnancy and healthcare education and counseling about iron folate supplement.

Compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The minimum prevalence of compliance 10.5% was observed from study conducted in Tigray. 21 The highest (74.9%) was observed in study conducted at National level. 20 The pooled prevalence of compliance with Iron and folic-acid supplementation (IFAS) among pregnant women in Ethiopia was 46.1% (95% CI, 0.388-0.558).…”

“…Twenty five cross-sectional articles were involved in the meta-analysis (Table 1). [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Out of these six studies (33.3%), were conducted in Amhara, six (33.3%) in Southern Nation Nationality and peoples of Ethiopia (SNNP), one (5.5%) in Oromia, two (11%) in Tigray, one (5.5%) in Dire Dawa city administration, one (5.5%) in Addis Ababa city administration and one (5.5%) national study. The highest sample size was from Amhara with sample size of 628 and the minimum was from Tigray with sample size of 200 and the mean age of the respondent was 27 years.…”

“…The highest sample size was from Amhara with sample size of 628 and the minimum was from Tigray with sample size of 200 and the mean age of the respondent was 27 years. 17,21 Out of eighteen included studies; fourteen of the studies were facility based and the rest four were community based. [16][17][18][21][22][23][24][25][27][28][29][30][31]33…”

“…12 Several published articles on compliance with iron and folic-acid supplementation (IFAS) in pregnancy in Ethiopia are documented. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] Nevertheless there is no systematic review and meta-analysis conducted on prevalence and determinants of IFA supplementation. Empirically the current overall prevalence of IFAS in pregnancy is not identified in this setup.…”

Factors Associated With Adherence To Iron Supplementation Among Pregnant Women

“…Bored, nausea, vomit, constipation, which are mentioned by mothers in Bicol, Philippine and Senegal is possible to happen to some pregnant mothers who eat iron (8) . This one of a factor which makes mothers become discompliance to take medicine, here the support of husbands is essential to make their wife's disposed to take medicine regularly (6).…”