Assessment of adherence to ferrous sulfate with folic acid supplement among antenatal care attendants at university of Gondar referral Hospital Northwest Ethiopia.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Deficiency of iron sulfate with folic acid precipitates anemia which is a severe problem during pregnancy. It causes neonatal and maternal health crisis. Supplementing pregnant women with iron sulfate with folic acid containing product is known to improve this poor outcome. However, women do not adhere to iron sulfate with folic acid supplement. Nonadherence has been associated with many factors. But sufficient data concerning this issue were not available in our setup. Objective: The study aimed to assess the level and associated factors of adherence to prenatal iron sulfate with folic acid supplement among pregnant women attending at antenatal care clinic in University of Gondar Referral Hospital North West Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinic at University of Gondar Referral Hospital from March 1/2017 to April 30/2017. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Adherence was measured through interviewing using structured questionnaire for the number of tablets they consumed per week. Statistical Package for Social Science Result: Out of 418 study participants about half of them 231 AOR 2.42;95% CI Conclusion: More than half of the study participants in this study were adhered to iron sulfate with folic acid supplement. Marital status, residence, family number, number of antenatal care visit, antenatal care starting time, having anemia on current pregnancy, facing any problem in the facility and number of tablets collected per visit were predicators of adherence to iron sulfate with folic acid. Every one like the society, government should work for promoting appropriate use of the supplement. Key words: Adherence, Ferrous sulfate with folic acid and University of Gondar Referral Hospital