Compliance level and factors associated with iron–folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Dangila, Northern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: Iron–folic acid non-compliance is a major problem in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of iron–folic acid supplementation compliance and associated factors among pregnant women. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among pregnant women from 1 to 30 November 2018 in Dangila, Northern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. For data entry and analysis, Epi Info 7 and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 23.0 were used, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation, and odds ratios with their respective confidence intervals were calculated. Statistically significant was declared at a p value of less than 0.05. The results were presented using text, tables, and figures. Results: A total of 589 pregnant women were involved, yielding a response rate of 91.2%. The average age of the participants in the study was 30.90 ± 5.93 years. The average weekly iron–folic acid pill intake was 5.3. The iron-folic acid compliance rate was 76.9% (95% confidence interval: 73.5–80.6). Women who had four or fewer alive children (adjusted odds ratio = 2.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.37–5.23), took less than 30 min to get to the health facility (adjusted odds ratio = 1.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–3.10), being a government employee (adjusted odds ratio = 0.16, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.81), attended antenatal care conferences (odds ratio = 2,95% confidence interval: 1.16–3.42), and started iron–folic acid tablets in the first trimester (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–3.87) were associated with iron–folic acid compliance. Conclusion: The level of iron–folic acid supplementation compliance was low. Attending antenatal care training and starting to take iron-folic acid pills early in the first trimester were both factors associated with iron–folic acid supplementation compliance. Health care and health extension workers should emphasize and monitor the iron pill–taking habits of pregnant women in home-to-home visits.

Adherence to Iron-Folic Acid Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Southern Ethiopia, 2022

“…However, this result is lower compared with studies conducted in Mozambique (79%) 6 and northern Ethiopia (76.9%). 17 This difference could be due to geographic location, study period, sample size, and women's perceptions.…”

Utilization and compliance with iron supplementation and predictors among pregnant women in Southeast Ethiopia

“…In this study, the overall compliance rate of iron supplementation during pregnancy was found to be 92.4%. The current finding was higher than many previous reports in Ethiopia, such as the compliance rate, which varied from 60 to 63.6% in Addis Ababa 32 , 44 , 45 , 87.6% in Ethiopia 37 , Dire Dawa 46 , Shalla District 47 , 43.4% Dilla town 48 , 38.3% Hadassah 28 , 51.4% Burin district 49 , 52.9% Debbie 50 , 28.1% Denbiya District 36 , 28.7% Lay Armachiho 31 , 55% Gondar 51 , 47.6% Aykal town 30 , 44% Debre Tabor 52 , 43% Wollo 53 and 74.9% in four regions of Ethiopia 20 , 67.6% Simada district 54 , 52.8% Debay Tilat Gen district 55 , 37.2% Northwestern zone of Ethiopia 35 , 55.5% Debre Markos town 56 , 76.9% Dangila, Northern Ethiopia 57 , 40.9% in Adwa town 58 , and meta-analyses, 46.15, 46.1, 41.38 and 43.63% 59 – 62 . The present finding was also higher than many others, for example, a meta-analysis in SSA 63 , Uganda 64 , Kenya 65 , Nigeria 24 , Northwest Tanzania 66 , Northern Tanzania 67 , 22 sub-Saharan African countries 23 , Niger 68 , West Iran 69 , Cambodia 34 , Nepal 70 , 71 , India 72 , and Sri Lanka 73 .…”

Adherence to Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic In Shashemene town Health Facility, Southeast Ethiopia,2024; Facility based cross-sectional Study

“…The questionnaire initially prepared in English and then were translated to Afan Oromo and back into English. The questionnaire were pre-tested before implementation on twenty one (21) pregnant women attending ANC and using IFA supplement at Arsi Nagelle Health Center and revisions were made to the tool based on the results. One day of training was given to data collectors and supervisor on the objective of the study, data collection process, and relevance of the study to both data collectors and supervisors before actual data collection.…”

“…Studies conducted on Iron-folic in different parts of countries revealed that the adherence of Iron-folic among pregnant Mother ranged from 22.9% study conducted Mille and Assayita of Afar regional State to 76.9% study conducted on Dangila of Amhara regional state (1,3,6,(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23).…”

“…The factor associated with iron-folic acid adherence identi ed by previous studies were history of past abortion (15) knowledge about anemia (1,3,(15)(16)(17)20) knowledge about IFA (1,17,20) received health education (15,16) counseled on IFA(3) have four and more ANC visit (3,17) maternal education (20,22) husband education (20) achieved secondary school (6, 23) age of mother (16, 20) history of anemia during previous pregnancy (16) complication of previous pregnancy (19) distance from health facility (21) being government employee (21) and early start of antenatal care (21)(22)(23).…”