Effective Modalities to Improve Pregnant Women’s Compliance to Daily Prenatal Iron Supplementation
Aregash Samuel *
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Girma Mamo
Micronutrient Initiative, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Samson Gebremedhin
Micronutrient Initiative, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tibebu Moges
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tsehai Assefa
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Amha Kebede
Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Prenatal Iron Supplementation (PIS) has a paramount contribution for reducing maternal mortality. The coverage and compliance in Ethiopia is 17.3% and 0.4% respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the coverage of and adherence to prenatal PIS and to identify factors affecting utilization of the service.
Methods: The formative research was conducted in eight selected woredas, namely Alamata, Enderta, Menze Mama, Menze Gera, Ada Berga, Meta Robi, Sankura and Meskan. The study applied descriptive cross-sectional design with quantitative and qualitative elements targeted at determining the coverage and adherence of PIS and identifying factors affecting utilization of PIS.
Results: Among women who gave birth in the preceding year, 40.1% took iron tablets during the pregnancy. The coverage exceeded 50% in Sankura, Enderta and Alamata Woredas; whereas, only one-in-three and one-in-ten women were supplemented in Menze Gera and Menze Mama woredas respectively. However, only 3.6% of them took the supplement for the recommended 90 or more days.
Conclusions: The coverage among women who gave birth in the preceding year and among women who were pregnant at the time of the survey was 40.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Lack of adequate stock and poor logistic system, lack of training for front line health workers on ANC, lack of BCC and job aid materials, fear of side effect, fear of taking medication during pregnancy, lack of awareness on the benefits of the supplement have contributed for the low coverage and adherence to PIS.