Abstract

Background: Ensuring adherence to IFA (iron and folic acid) supplementation is crucial in the context of preventing and treating iron deficiency anaemia, among pregnant women. This is particularly relevant since the need for iron often begins to rise during the second trimester of pregnancy. The objective of this research is to evaluate the level of adherence among pregnant women to Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS), as well as to identify the characteristics that are linked with this adherence. To investigate the factors contributing to nonadherence to IFAS regimens.
Method: This cross-sectional study of who had attended six randomly selected primary health care centres in Basrah for antenatal care (ANC). Four hundred pregnant women were included in this study which was conducted from May to August 2023. A special questionnaire form was designed for the study.
Result: the study showed a 59% compliance rate with iron and folic acid among pregnant women who visited primary health care centres in Basrah. The most common reason for non-compliance was “forgetfulness” (24.39%).
The results of this study showed a significant association between the compliance of iron and folic acid and the educational status of women, occupation, gravidity, number of live births, Early booking visit time, frequency of antenatal care visits, and previous history of anaemia are significantly associated with compliance to IFAS. compliance is higher among those who take 30 minutes or less to reach the health care centre by walking.
Conclusion: The majority of pregnant women in the second and third trimesters are compliant with IFAS. Being aged 20-29 years, educated, employed, with early booking visits, and Pregnant women with normal current HB levels, and good knowledge about anaemia and IFAS were more compliant than others. The most common causes for non-compliance were forgetfulness followed by epigastric pain.