Compliance level and factors associated with iron–folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Dangila, Northern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: Iron–folic acid non-compliance is a major problem in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of iron–folic acid supplementation compliance and associated factors among pregnant women. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among pregnant women from 1 to 30 November 2018 in Dangila, Northern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the participants. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire. For data entry and analysis, Epi Info 7 and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 23.0 were used, respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Descriptive statistics like mean and standard deviation, and odds ratios with their respective confidence intervals were calculated. Statistically significant was declared at a p value of less than 0.05. The results were presented using text, tables, and figures. RESULTS: A total of 589 pregnant women were involved, yielding a response rate of 91.2%. The average age of the participants in the study was 30.90 ± 5.93 years. The average weekly iron–folic acid pill intake was 5.3. The iron-folic acid compliance rate was 76.9% (95% confidence interval: 73.5–80.6). Women who had four or fewer alive children (adjusted odds ratio = 2.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.37–5.23), took less than 30 min to get to the health facility (adjusted odds ratio = 1.90, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–3.10), being a government employee (adjusted odds ratio = 0.16, 95% confidence interval: 0.03–0.81), attended antenatal care conferences (odds ratio = 2,95% confidence interval: 1.16–3.42), and started iron–folic acid tablets in the first trimester (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–3.87) were associated with iron–folic acid compliance. CONCLUSION: The level of iron–folic acid supplementation compliance was low. Attending antenatal care training and starting to take iron-folic acid pills early in the first trimester were both factors associated with iron–folic acid supplementation compliance. Health care and health extension workers should emphasize and monitor the iron pill–taking habits of pregnant women in home-to-home visits.