Adherence to iron folate supplementation and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public hospitals in Jigjiga Town, Somali Region, Ethiopia 2020

Abstract

Introduction: pregnant women are at particular risk of folate and iron deficiency due to their increased requirements, which can be difficult to meet through diet alone. Poor adherence to the supplement makes the prevalence of anemia among pregnant women high, which is associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of study was to assess magnitude of adherence to iron-folic supplements and their associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at public hospitals in the Jigjiga Town, Somali Region.

Methods: an institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 290 pregnant during antenatal care service in two public hospitals. Mothers were randomly selected and interviewed using questionnaires. Multiple logistic regressions used to show the effect of independent variables.

Results: in this study, 290 women interviewed and the response rate was 91%. Nearly 54.9% were adherent to iron folic supplementation. The odds of adherence for secondary and above educated woman was almost three times (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.843; 95% CI: 1.177-6.865; P=0.020) that of illiterate. The odds of adherence for more than four visit women is almost twice of less than four visits (AOR: 1.991; 95% CI: 1.098-3.610; p=0.023). Similarly, odds of adherence for knowledgeable woman about iron folate supplement were twice of ill-informed women (AOR: 2.090; 95% CI: 1.134-3.852; P=0.018).

Conclusion: adherence to iron folic supplementation was very poor. Number of ANC visits, education of women, knowledge about iron folic supplement, history of still birth, and age were significant determinants to adherence.