Adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation and associated factors among mothers receiving antenatal care in Lira district, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Prenatal iron and folic acid supplementation is an economical strategy for reducing iron and folic acid deficiency anemia among expectant mothers in resource-limited countries like Uganda. This study aimed to assess the level of compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) and identify associated factors among mothers receiving prenatal services in Lira district, Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinic of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, involving 252 pregnant mothers. Adherence levels to IFAS were evaluated using a visual analogue scale, and associated factors were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and the results were presented in tables. Results : Only 46% of the mothers attending the antenatal clinic adhered to IFAS during the 30 days preceding the study. Participants who had good knowledge of IFAS before recruitment (odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.97), utilized reminder techniques (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.09), and received support from their partners or relatives (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.07–2.29) were more likely to have good adherence. The main reasons for missing IFAS were forgetfulness and fear of taking too many tablets. Conclusions: There was a low adherence rate to IFAS among mothers attending antenatal clinics in Lira district. Further investigations are recommended to identify barriers to adherence, and comprehensive health education programs should be provided to pregnant mothers.