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

Abstract

Background; Pregnant women are at a high risk of anemia, with iron-folate deficiency being the most common cause of anemia among pregnant women. Despite the well-known importance of iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) during pregnancy, adherence to these supplements is relatively low and associated factors were not well identified in the study area. The aim of this study was to assess Iron - Folic Acid Supplementation adherence and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Shashemene town public health facilities, Southeast Ethiopia; 2024. Method Facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed selecting 415 pregnant women attending antenatal care services in four public health institutions of Shashemene town. Health facility were selected by simple random sampling using lottery method. Based on quarterly report of population size, proportion to sample size allocation made at each selected health facilities. Finally, pregnant women who visited for Antenatal care service at selected health facilities during data collection period were consecutively included in the study. Data were collected by interview. Then it was entered into EPI Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate binary logistic regression techniques were used to identify independent predictors. A p-value < 0.05 was taken as indication of statistical significance Results The overall adherence status of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic was found to be 66.5%. Participating on pregnant mother conference (AOR = 5.39, 95%CI: 3.29–8.83), having less than four children (AOR = 1.88, 95% CI (1.12, 3.13) and good knowledge of IFAS (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI (1.51, 4.53), were statistically and positively associated with pregnant mothers adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation. Conclusions The study revealed a notably high adherence to iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation among the women included, surpassing rates observed in both national and international studies. Factors contributing to this included receiving information and education on IFA supplementation during pregnant mother conferences conducted by health professionals, possessing knowledge about IFAS, and having fewer than or equal to four children. Intervention strategies targeting these factors are strongly recommended to sustain and potentially increase mothers' adherence to IFA supplementation.