Knowledge on anaemia and benefit of iron–folic acid supplementation among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Woldia town, Northeastern Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Anaemia in pregnancy is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality and poor birth outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. The most common cause of anaemia during pregnancy is acute blood loss and iron deficiency due to physiological changes and increasing demand for iron on the mother and growing foetus. Iron and folic acid supplementation is the most widely employed strategy to alleviate iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy. The mother’s knowledge of anaemia and the benefit of iron–folic acid is crucial in reducing the magnitude of anaemia due to iron deficiency. In Woldia town, despite the efforts made to reduce iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy, information on pregnant mother knowledge on anaemia and the benefit of iron–folic acid and its associated factors are scarce. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted, on 414 pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Woldia town, Northern Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling methods were used to select study participants. The data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and analysed using SPSS version 24. Bivariable and multivariable analysis was done to see the association between the dependent variable and independent variables. RESULTS: This study revealed that 54.1% and 57.7% of pregnant women had good knowledge of anaemia and the benefit of iron–folic acid, respectively. Maternal education status (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.32–3.64), good knowledge of iron–folic acid (AOR = 5.85, 95% CI 3.60–9.50) and residence (AOR = 5.43, 95% CI 2.36–12.51) were statistically associated with pregnant mothers knowledge on anaemia. Obtained counselling on the benefit of iron–folic acid (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.11–3.75), having four or more antenatal care visit (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.38–7.07) and good knowledge of anaemia (AOR = 5.88, 95% CI 3.63–9.50) was statistically associated with pregnant mothers knowledge on the benefit of iron–folic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting frequent antenatal care visits and giving counselling on the benefit of iron–folic acid and cause, prevention and treatment of anaemia were essential strategies to raise knowledge of pregnant mother on anaemia and the benefit of iron–folic acid.