Adherence to Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation and Its Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Bwindi Community Hospital, Western Uganda
Table 2
Factors associated with iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant women.
Variables
Adherence
Crude odds ratio (95% CI)
Adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)
value
Yes, number (%)
No, number (%)
Sociodemographic characteristics
Age (years)
≤18
7 (7.14)
9 (2.65)
1.26 (0.91-2.62)
1.03 (0.77-2.17)
0.215
19-29
59 (60.20)
226 (66.47)
1.13 (0.48-1.86)
1.02 (0.43-1.59)
0.166
≥30
32 (32.65)
105 (30.88)
1
1
Marital status
Married
84 (85.71)
284 (83.53)
1.38 (0.94-1.81)
1.17 (0.84-1.49)
0.312
Single
14 (14.29)
56 (16.47)
1
1
Level of education
No formal education
11 (11.22)
14 (4.12)
1.20 (0.69-2.16)
1.10 (0.62-2.01)
0.395
Primary
21 (21.43)
164 (48.24)
1.62 (0. 88-2.31)
1.23 (0.76-2.12)
0.098
Secondary
32 (32.65)
94 (27.65)
1.94 (0.96-2.47)
1.66 (0.79-2.21)
0.168
Tertiary
34 (34.69)
68 (20.00)
1
1
Occupation
Employed
43 (43.88)
91 (26.76)
1.6 (0.99-2.31)
1.4 (0.72-2.01)
0.114
Unemployed
55 (56.12)
249 (73.24)
1
1
Obstetric characteristics
Gravidity
Primigravida
29 (29.59)
102 (30.00)
4.7 (2.67-5.11)
4.5 (2.21-4.73)
0.002
2nd-3rd
41 (41.84)
178 (52.35)
1.6 (1.27-2.01)
1.3 (1.19-1.87)
0.712
≥4th
28 (28.57)
60 (17.65)
1
Parity
1-2
53 (54.08)
121 (35.59)
3.9 (2.81-4.17)
3.4 (2.73-4.02)
0.003
3-4
45 (45.92)
219 (64.41)
1
1
Gestation period
1st trimester
27 (27.55)
88 (25.88)
1.4 (0.93-1.67)
1.21 (0.74-1.56)
0.716
2nd trimester
44 (44.90)
46 (13.53)
1.7 (0.81-2.2)
1.4 (0.74-2.06)
0.081
3rd trimester
27 (27.55)
206 (60.59)
1
1
Client-related characteristics
Duration of taking iron and folic acid supplementation (months)
1-3
38 (38.78)
211 (62.06)
1.1 (0.43-1.47)
1.08 (0.38-1.38)
0.257
4-6
46 (46.94)
74 (21.76)
1.4 (0.61-1.88)
1.2 (0.54-1.62)
0.377
≥7
14 (14.29)
55 (16.18)
1
1
Knowledge of when to start taking iron and folic acid supplementation
Immediately after realising I am pregnant
54 (55.10)
141 (41.47)
1.7 (1.44-2.31)
1.4 (0.96-1.88)
0.094
After 3 months
38 (38.78)
183 (53.82)
1.9 (1.63-2.33)
1.6 (1.42-2.21)
0.791
I do not know
6 (6.12)
16 (4.71)
1
1
Considered it important to take iron and folic acid supplementation
Yes
79 (80.61)
284 (83.53)
3.1 (2.49-3.51)
2.9 (2.39-3.40)
0.002
No
19 (19.39)
56 (16.47)
1
1
Duration of taking iron and folic acid supplementation during the gestation period
Throughout pregnancy
37 (37.76)
34 (10.00)
1.9 (1.71-2.26)
1.6 (1.32-2.13)
0.683
<9 months
59 (60.20)
297 (87.35)
1.3 (1.01-1.83)
1.1 (0.91-1.48)
0.417
I do not know
2 (2.04)
9 (2.65)
1
1
Perceived importance of iron and folic acid supplementation
Prevention of anemia
61 (62.24)
113 (33.24)
6.7 (5.80-7.38)
6.2 (5.41-7.17)
0.003
Good for the baby’s growth and health
29 (29.59)
94 (27.65)
1.9 (0.71-2.21)
1.6 (0.62-2.09)
0.455
Prevents complications during delivery
6 (6.12)
46 (13.53)
1.4 (0.98-1.81)
1.1 (0.81-1.57)
0.391
Others
2 (2.04)
87 (25.59)
1
1
Perceived as a risk not to take iron and folic acid supplementation
Yes
69 (70.41)
191 (56.18)
5.5 (4.12-6.17)
5.2 (4.06-6.18)
0.002
No
29 (29.59)
149 (43.82)
1
1
Days that iron and folic acid supplementation was taken in the previous 1 week
<4
0 (0.00)
340 (100.00)
1.1 (0.61-1.73)
1.0 (0.55-1.24)
0.741
≥4
98 (100.00)
0 (0.00)
1
1
Health facility-related characteristics
Received sufficient health education regarding the goals of iron and folic acid supplementation as well as the dangers of not taking the supplements
Yes
76 (77.55)
29 (8.53)
4.8 (3.18-5.22)
4.4 (3.06-5.12)
0.001
No
22 (22.45)
311 (91.47)
1
1
Motivating factors that influenced adherence to iron and folic acid supplementation
Availability of iron and folic acid at the hospital
47 (47.96)
27 (7.94)
1.9 (0.19-2.64)
1.4 (0.66-2.14)
0.527
Adequate counseling
29 (29.59)
33 (9.71)
3.9 (2.51-4.71)
3.6 (2.16-4.50)
≤0.001
Explanation of the effects of iron and folic acid supplementation
13 (13.27)
206 (60.59)
5.1 (3.11-6.98)
4.8 (3.08-6.42)
0.002
Clear instructions for the use of iron and folic acid supplementation
9 (9.18)
107 (31.47)
1
1
95% CI denotes 95% confidence interval. denotes variables with a statistical significance.
