Wondwossen Niguse, Rajalakshmi Murugan
ABSTRACT
Introduction:Globally, 41.8% of pregnant women are anemic with the highest proportion affected in developing countries. In Ethiopia, only 0.4% of the pregnant women take iron supplements during pregnancy time.
Objective:The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of adherence to iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Asella town.
Materials and Methods: A institution-based descriptive study design with quantitative method was conducted in Asella town from September 2015 to June 2016. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the health institution. The sample size of 317 was selected with systematic random sampling method. The questionnaire was adapted from a Kenyan study by Dingo et al. 2013 and data were collected by interview method. Data were cleaned, coded, and entered by EPI-DATA version 3.0 and transported to SPSS version 22 for further analysis. To indicate the strength of association, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used.
Result:The study respond rate was 296 (93%), and mothers who completed at least secondary school were more likely to adhere the supplement than those uneducated (adjusted OR [AOR] = 6.501, 95% CI = 1.945–21.728). Women with early antenatal care (ANC) registration were more likely to adhere to the IFA supplement than those with late ANC registration AOR = 4.813, 95% CI = 1.728–13.407. Multigravida mothers were more likely to adhere the supplement AOR = 2.727, 95% CI = 1.170– 6.355. In addition, forget fullness, taking many pills, and fear of side effects were major related factors with non-adherence.
Conclusion:Determinants of adherence to IFA were maternal education, gravidity, ANC visit starting time, family monthly income, knowledge about the duration of supplement, and problems faced in the facility were identified. Result recommend that maternal health education by media, health professionals about early Antenatal visits, and Importance of adherence of Iron and Folic acid. Government to arrange adequate supply of Iron/folic acid supplements to the health facilities.
Key words: Adherence, antenatal clinic, determinant, iron and folic acid, pregnant women