Effectiveness of Health Information Package Program on Knowledge and Compliance among Pregnant Women with Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Despite the availability of iron supplements during pregnancy for all pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Saudi Arabia, anemia remains to be a global public health concern leading to adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Health Information Package Program on the knowledge anemic pregnant women had about anemia, their compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation, and their hemoglobin levels. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines between January and May 2021. Pregnant women (n = 196) aged 18–45 years old and diagnosed with anemia during the first trimester of their pregnancy were randomly assigned into two groups: the intervention group (Health Information Package Program plus routine care, n = 98) and the control group (routine care only, n = 98). Knowledge, the ability to select appropriate food, and hemoglobin levels were assessed at baseline and after three months, while compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation was also measured at the end of three months. This study indicated that the post-education mean knowledge score, food selection ability score, compliance rate, and hemoglobin level were significantly higher for the intervention group than for the control group. The Health Information Package Program with regular follow-ups using the WhatsApp platform was an effective educational intervention for anemic pregnant women.

The effect of iron tablets' side effects on the level of compliance to consuming iron tablets in pregnant woman: A systematic review

“…This causes pregnant women to consistently forget or stop consuming according to WHO's advised standards [5]. The total pill of iron tablets consumed and poor management or missed iron supplement consumption indicate the quality of adherence in pregnant women [10]. Side effects after consuming iron supplements can reduce compliance to taking the prescribed number of pills as recommended by health workers [7,11,13,14].…”

Adherence to iron supplementation among anemic pregnant women during 1964-2022: A bibliometric analysis

“…There was a crosssectional study, quasi-experimental, and randomized control trial. Although most nations give free iron supplements (Elsharkawy et al, 2022) and as part of antenatal treatment, to reduce the risk of low birth weight, maternal anemia, and iron deficiency, it is recommended that women take daily oral iron and folic acid supplements (World Health Organization, 2014), the fundamental problem is inadequate or absent compliance (Peña Rosas et al, 2015a). One study from WHO in 1981 is the first recorded publication of this study.…”

Effect of Picture-based health education and counselling on knowledge and adherence to preconception Iron-folic acid supplementation among women planning to be pregnant in Eastern Ethiopia: a randomized controlled trial

“…Bihar, India (68) , in Kenya (69) , from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, India and Indonesia (70)(71)(72)(73)(74) . The nutrition knowledge scores were significantly higher at the endline and 3 months after the sessions compared with the baseline and there was a statistical significant difference between the intervention and control groups.…”