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The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women

Received: 27 October 2020     Accepted: 5 November 2020     Published: 11 November 2020
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Abstract

Introduction: The impact of adherence to taking prescribed medications for chronic illnesses has been widely studied with a view to understanding its role on disease burden. This has been extrapolated to the physiologic pregnancy state, where women are expected to take haematinics due to their susceptibility to anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy is reportedly high with more burden on developing countries. This has led to the recommendation of iron and folate supplements for women during pregnancy. Methods: We set out to determine the level of adherence (and deterrents) to taking iron and folate supplements as well as the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (18-45 years old) attending antenatal care at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital (SOWCH) and the Central Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria between July-December, 2019. An association between occurrence of anaemia and adherence level was also assessed. Results: 400 pregnant women participated in this study. The mean age (±SD) of the study population was 30±4 years, mean gestational age (±SD) was 31±5 weeks. Majority of the women (82.0%) were in their third trimester, 17.5% and 0.5% in second and first trimesters respectively. Total adherence scores obtained ranged from 0-8, with 63.5% being non-adherent to taking their iron and folate supplements. Factors that influenced adherence positively were higher income (p=0.00) and being employed (p=0.01). Top three identified reason for non-adherence were forgetfulness to take prescribed supplement (62.5%), feeling too bored to take supplements daily (44.3%) and unavailability of supplements (38.0%). The mean Hb (±SD) was 10.9±1.1g/dl. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy was 46.8%, with mild (43.8%) and moderate (3.3%) forms only. Of the non-adherent group, 69.7% were anaemic versus 30.3% of the adherent group. There was an association between the occurence of anaemia and non-adherence to taking supplements (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high level of non-adherence to taking iron and folate, prevalence of anaemia, and an association between them. Benefits of adherence to these supplements should be reinforced to women of child bearing age.

Published in Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15
Page(s) 179-185
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adherence, Anaemia, Pregnancy, Iron, Folate, Impact

References
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    Akinola Oyekemi Ifeoluwapo, Uwaibi Noel, Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu, Ohenhen Victor, Egbo Ojevwe Harrison, et al. (2020). The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women. Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 8(6), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15

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    Akinola Oyekemi Ifeoluwapo; Uwaibi Noel; Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu; Ohenhen Victor; Egbo Ojevwe Harrison, et al. The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2020, 8(6), 179-185. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15

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    AMA Style

    Akinola Oyekemi Ifeoluwapo, Uwaibi Noel, Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu, Ohenhen Victor, Egbo Ojevwe Harrison, et al. The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women. J Gynecol Obstet. 2020;8(6):179-185. doi: 10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15,
      author = {Akinola Oyekemi Ifeoluwapo and Uwaibi Noel and Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu and Ohenhen Victor and Egbo Ojevwe Harrison and Erhabor Osarenokemen Julie and Omozuwa Eghosasere Sunday and Omokhua Gabriella and Adeyemi Oluwafemi},
      title = {The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women},
      journal = {Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics},
      volume = {8},
      number = {6},
      pages = {179-185},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jgo.20200806.15},
      abstract = {Introduction: The impact of adherence to taking prescribed medications for chronic illnesses has been widely studied with a view to understanding its role on disease burden. This has been extrapolated to the physiologic pregnancy state, where women are expected to take haematinics due to their susceptibility to anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy is reportedly high with more burden on developing countries. This has led to the recommendation of iron and folate supplements for women during pregnancy. Methods: We set out to determine the level of adherence (and deterrents) to taking iron and folate supplements as well as the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (18-45 years old) attending antenatal care at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital (SOWCH) and the Central Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria between July-December, 2019. An association between occurrence of anaemia and adherence level was also assessed. Results: 400 pregnant women participated in this study. The mean age (±SD) of the study population was 30±4 years, mean gestational age (±SD) was 31±5 weeks. Majority of the women (82.0%) were in their third trimester, 17.5% and 0.5% in second and first trimesters respectively. Total adherence scores obtained ranged from 0-8, with 63.5% being non-adherent to taking their iron and folate supplements. Factors that influenced adherence positively were higher income (p=0.00) and being employed (p=0.01). Top three identified reason for non-adherence were forgetfulness to take prescribed supplement (62.5%), feeling too bored to take supplements daily (44.3%) and unavailability of supplements (38.0%). The mean Hb (±SD) was 10.9±1.1g/dl. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy was 46.8%, with mild (43.8%) and moderate (3.3%) forms only. Of the non-adherent group, 69.7% were anaemic versus 30.3% of the adherent group. There was an association between the occurence of anaemia and non-adherence to taking supplements (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high level of non-adherence to taking iron and folate, prevalence of anaemia, and an association between them. Benefits of adherence to these supplements should be reinforced to women of child bearing age.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Impact of Iron and Folate Adherence on the Prevalence of Anaemia in Pregnant Nigerian Women
    AU  - Akinola Oyekemi Ifeoluwapo
    AU  - Uwaibi Noel
    AU  - Nwagu Marcellinus Uchechukwu
    AU  - Ohenhen Victor
    AU  - Egbo Ojevwe Harrison
    AU  - Erhabor Osarenokemen Julie
    AU  - Omozuwa Eghosasere Sunday
    AU  - Omokhua Gabriella
    AU  - Adeyemi Oluwafemi
    Y1  - 2020/11/11
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15
    T2  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JF  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    JO  - Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
    SP  - 179
    EP  - 185
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2376-7820
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jgo.20200806.15
    AB  - Introduction: The impact of adherence to taking prescribed medications for chronic illnesses has been widely studied with a view to understanding its role on disease burden. This has been extrapolated to the physiologic pregnancy state, where women are expected to take haematinics due to their susceptibility to anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy is reportedly high with more burden on developing countries. This has led to the recommendation of iron and folate supplements for women during pregnancy. Methods: We set out to determine the level of adherence (and deterrents) to taking iron and folate supplements as well as the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women (18-45 years old) attending antenatal care at the Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital (SOWCH) and the Central Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria between July-December, 2019. An association between occurrence of anaemia and adherence level was also assessed. Results: 400 pregnant women participated in this study. The mean age (±SD) of the study population was 30±4 years, mean gestational age (±SD) was 31±5 weeks. Majority of the women (82.0%) were in their third trimester, 17.5% and 0.5% in second and first trimesters respectively. Total adherence scores obtained ranged from 0-8, with 63.5% being non-adherent to taking their iron and folate supplements. Factors that influenced adherence positively were higher income (p=0.00) and being employed (p=0.01). Top three identified reason for non-adherence were forgetfulness to take prescribed supplement (62.5%), feeling too bored to take supplements daily (44.3%) and unavailability of supplements (38.0%). The mean Hb (±SD) was 10.9±1.1g/dl. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy was 46.8%, with mild (43.8%) and moderate (3.3%) forms only. Of the non-adherent group, 69.7% were anaemic versus 30.3% of the adherent group. There was an association between the occurence of anaemia and non-adherence to taking supplements (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high level of non-adherence to taking iron and folate, prevalence of anaemia, and an association between them. Benefits of adherence to these supplements should be reinforced to women of child bearing age.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

  • Department of Anatomical and Histopathology, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Stella Obasanjo Women and Children Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Medical Microbiology, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

  • Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Edo University, Iyamho, Nigeria

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