Adherence to Iron Supplement Intake During Pregnancy and Associated Factors in Indonesia: Further Analysis of Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey 2017
Dewi Muthia Charissa Akhyudi (a*), Erni Astutik (b)

a) Master of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, University of Airlangga, Indonesia
*dewi.muthia.charissa-2022[at]fkm.unair.ac.id
b) Departement of Epidemiology, Faculty of Publich Health, University of Airlangga, Indonesia

Abstract

Iron supplementation for at least 90 days during the most recent births pregnancy is required for adherence to iron supplement intake. Miscarriage, stillbirths, preterm, low birth weight, congenital deformities and perinatal mortality are some risks of iron folic acid deficiency during pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the proportion of adherence to iron supplement intake and its associated factors among women during pregnancy in Indonesia. This study was a cross sectional design and based on a secondary analysis of 2017 Indonesia Demographics Health Survey (DHS) data. Sampling was done by analysing selected individual data with a target population of reproductive women aged 15-49 years who had children aged zero-five years in Indonesia which is for the sample in this study was 12.778 women of reproductive age. Chi-square test analyses were performed to identify factors associated with adherence to iron supplement intake (OR with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value <0,05 were used to declare statistical significant). Our analysis revealed that almost half of the women among pregnancy who consumed <90 iron tablets (44,4%). Type of place of residence (OR=1,53 95%CI:1,37-1,71), timing of first ANC (OR=2,09 95%CI:1,84-2,37), number of ANC (OR=5,12 95%CI:4,11-6,38), wealth index (OR=1,70 95%CI:1,53-1,88), mothers education (OR=1,34 95%CI:1,20-1,49), problem in accessing healthcare (OR=1,32 95%CI:1,17-1,49) and internet access (OR=1,71 95%CI: 1,56-1,87) were associated with iron supplement intake during pregnancy. Interventions to enhance the uptake of iron supplementation better focus on early and frequency of antenatal care visits during pregnancy. Encouraging health promotion through the mass media and support efforts from government to improving socio-economic factors are needed too.

Keywords: iron folic acid deficiency, iron supplement intake, pregnancy, Indonesia

Topic: Maternal and Child Health