Women's adherence to iron supplementation during pregnancy in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction Anaemia in pregnancy is caused by factors such as malaria, poor diet and hook worm infestation. Adherence to iron supplementation in pregnancy has been found to correct anaemia and improve fetal outcomes. In Ghana, though iron is given to pregnant women at no cost under the free maternal healthcare policy, anaemia prevalence is high. This calls for investigation into adherence to iron supplementation. This study investigated adherence of pregnant women to prescribed iron supplements in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among postnatal women in Kumasi in November and December 2017. Women were selected through systematic random sampling and given a structured questionnaire to elicit information regarding their sociodemographic characteristics and iron supplementation intake during pregnancy. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test, with P≤0.05 considered to be significant. Results Overall, most of the women were between 22 and 35 years old (69.5%) and had some form of formal education (86.7%). The majority (96.6%) took iron supplements during pregnancy. Most (82.2%) had their supplements prescribed by a midwife or nurse. The majority of women (61.9%) adhered to their prescription. There was a significant relationship between education level and adherence to iron prescription. Conclusions Strategies to improve education regarding adherence to the use of iron supplements by midwives are required.