Yemisrach Belete Biru*, Getasew Assefa Lemelem, Awet Fitwi G/Kiristos and Muluemebet Kassa Mezen
Introduction: Iron supplementation is a crucial strategy to prevent anemia during pregnancy. Studies showed that numerous women have poor iron supplementation adherence. This study determined the magnitude and factors associated with iron supplementation adherence among pregnant women in Ethiopia.
Methods: The data from 2,650 women who participated in the 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey was analyzed. Those women who took iron tablets for ≥ 90 days during pregnancy were considered as adherent to iron supplementation while the rest were considered as non-adherent. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings and logistic regression was used to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables.
Results: Among 2,650 women, 424 (13.4%) of them took iron tablets for ≥ 90 days. The residents of Tigray, Benishangul and Addis Ababa have higher adherence to iron supplementation. Additionally, early and frequent antenatal care visits were positively associated with adherence to iron supplementation.
Conclusion: In Ethiopia, the adherence of pregnant women to iron supplementation remains unacceptably low. Efforts need to continue to improve the coverage and utilization of antenatal care throughout the country. Additionally, equitable health access should be ensured throughout the country.
