Objectives
1. Determine the Socio-demographic and economic characteristics of pregnant women in Thika Municipality, Kiambu County.2. Determine adherence rate and reasons for non-adherence and/or adherence in study population.3. Assess knowledge on anemia causes and consequences in the study population.4. Assess use of antenatal clinic (ANC) among the study population.
Methods
The study was conducted at Thika Level 5 Hospital in Central Kenya which had recorded one of the lowest uptakes of the supplement by pregnant women as per the Kenya demographic health survey of 2008. Two hundred pregnant women attending antenatal clinic were selected through systematic random sampling to participate in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected on adherence rate and factors hindering and those associated with adherence to iron and folate supplements.
Results
Results showed that adherence rate was 24.5% (n=49; 95% CI: 18.5-30.5). Significant associations were found between adherence to iron and folate supplements and monthly expenditure on food (p=0.04), pregnancy trimester (p=0.01), history of low Hb level in current pregnancy (p=0.00), knowledge on anemia (p=0.00) and number of antenatal clinic visits (p=0.00). The qualitative data showed that women lacked knowledge on anemia and were ignorant on need to take the supplements.
Conclusions
Adherence rate to iron/folate supplements was low with lack of information influencing adherence and sensitization of women recommended.
