MST-Department of Population and Reproductive Health
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing MST-Department of Population and Reproductive Health by Subject "Associated Barriers"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Compliance to Prenatal Iron/Folic Acid Supplementation and Associated Barriers among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Machakos County, Kenya(Kenyatta University, 2021) Musyoki, Stephen Matata; Joseph Thigiti; Gilbert MunyokiIron nutrients plays a very critical role in body. Iron and folate nutrients are availed during expectance period so as cater for the high demand when one becomes pregnant to ensure sufficient supply of such elements to both baby and expectant mother. Therefore, the general objective of this research is to determine the barriers that controls compliance to iron/folate nutrients amidst expectant mothers in Machakos county. The specific goals were to determine maternal social demographic factors influencing adherence to IFAS supplementation, obstetric related factors and health facility related factors influencing adherence level to usage of IFAS. An illustrative sampling research design was used in three sub-county hospitals found in Machakos county to sample 200 expectant mothers whose years of age was between 18-49 years. The facilities that were used were selected randomly from seven sub-counties hospitals within Machakos County while the mothers were systematically and randomly sampled. Morisky medication compliance scale questionnaire was employed to estimate compliance of iron/folate. Data gathering was achieved by help structured questionnaire. Statistical package software (SPSS version 24) was employed to analyze the data. The kind of relationship that existed between study variables was determined by use of logistic regression. The strength of association between these variables was established using odds ratio, with 95% confidence interval. Bar charts and tables played the role of visual presentation of the data. Three focus group discussions with health unit managers and administrators were held out. The data from these discussions was sorted and themes that appeared were reported. Results: Most of the participants fall under age bracket of 21-40 years. A few respondents were above 40 years. 84 % were in marriage whereas 76 % of them had made it to secondary school. Above 50% of the sampled expectant mothers were involved in casual work while 69% received family support during expectant period. Among the socio-demographic factors of the participants, family support and level of literacy of the expectant women were significantly connected with adherence to iron and folate supplements at p value <0.05. Maternal knowledge on consequences of low haemoglobin levels, source of information about the consequences and perceived benefits of taking the supplements were significant predictors of iron and folate supplement compliance. This was improved when the supplements were given in combined form. Provision of health education in pregnancy especially counseling on nutritional value of supplementing iron stores in the body and how to manage side effects of iron and folate supplements were significantly associated with compliance to iron and folate supplements. Also, availability of the supplements during antenatal visits was associated with compliance to the supplements. Past experience of the mothers’ especially previous history of anemia, current haemoglobin level and bad obstetric history of the mother were found to increase compliance to the supplements. The time of initiating the antenatal clinics, number of antenatal clinics attended and current gestation were also found to be significant predictors of compliance to iron and folate supplements. Recommendation: The government of Kenya, through the County government of Machakos, to develop policies on procurement and distribution of combined iron and folate supplement. This will promote availability of the drugs and improve compliance to the supplements