Effectiveness of public health education on the uptake of iron and folic acid supplements among pregnant women: a stepped wedge cluster randomised trial

INTRODUCTION: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in pregnancy globally responsible for nearly 120 000 maternal deaths per year and a fifth of maternal mortality. Over 46% of pregnant women in Africa and 62% of pregnant women in Kenya are anaemic. Anaemia has severe economic and health consequences. Daily iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) is an efficacious strategy recommended in pregnancy to reduce the risk of anaemia and improve maternal and neonatal survival. However, most pregnant women do not consume IFAS as recommended. Limited knowledge on IFAS, its benefits and its connection with anaemia, and mitigation of its side effects lead to poor consumption. The main objective of this trial is to determine the effectiveness of public health education on uptake of antenatal IFAS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A stepped wedge cluster randomised trial with antenatal clinics as units of randomisation. Twelve clusters will be randomised to receive the intervention and levels of IFAS uptake compared with preintervention period. The 9-month trial will enrol 1205 pregnant women. The primary outcome will be the proportion of pregnant women effectively taking up IFAS measured through self-reports, residual pill count and inspection of pill reminder cards. Routine clinical data on haemoglobin counts and fetal growth monitoring will also be used. Descriptive and bivariate analysis will be conducted in Stata using Pearson’s χ(2) test for association, and multivariate logistic regression to identify determinants of uptake. The potential public health benefits will be estimated using the number needed to treat and the preventable fraction. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was granted by Kenyatta University Ethics Review Committee (PKU/2443/11575). The research permit is obtained from Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI/P/22/16168). Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and public health conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR202202775997127.