Objectives
The World Health Organization recommends IFA daily. High prevalence of anemia in pregnant women in Niger warrants the need to better understand the utilization of ANC and IFA. We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of ANC coverage and adherence to IFA among pregnant women.
Methods
Pregnant women (n=922) from 66 randomly selected villages within the catchment area of 12 health centers were interviewed during a baseline household survey in Zinder, Niger.
Results
Prevalence of ANC and IFA coverage were 60% and 44% respectively. Among those who attended ANC, 72% (398 of 554) reported receiving IFA. Among those who received IFA 99% (398 of 401) was obtained through ANC visits and 69% (275 of 401) reported consuming IFA daily in the previous week.Women with gestational age =27 weeks were more likely to have attended ANC than women with gestational age <27 weeks (86% vs. 28%, p < 0.001). Women who delivered their last child in a health facility (vs. home) were associated with greater ANC coverage [OR (95% CI): 2.24 (1.55-3.26)]. Women with minimum dietary diversity (vs. no MDD-W) had higher odds of ANC [OR (95% CI): 1.77 (1.21-2.60)]. Women who reportedly received husbands' advice about attending ANC were more likely to adhere to IFA recommendation compared to those who did not receive any advice.
Conclusions
ANC attendance is crucial to ensure distribution of IFA supplements among pregnant women in Zinder. Interventions to improve ANC coverage and IFA adherence will require promotion of early ANC and involving husbands in antenatal care seeking.Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Micronutrient Initiative.
