Abstract:
Background: Adherence is about taking 65% of IFAS supplement that is equivalent to taking four days
per a week. Iron has dual advantage for both the infant and pregnant mothers. Globally, Iron deficiency
anemia is a major public health problem including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the rate of Adherence to Iron
folate supplementation is low. Therefore, this study aimed to assess adherence to Iron folate and
associated factors among pregnant mothers in public Health facilities in Holeta town, West Shewa Zone,
Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024
Methods: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among732 pregnant mothers
from December 1to 29, 2024. Systematic sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data
were collected using structured and pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were
cleaned, coded and entered into Epi-data 4.6, and analyzed by using SPSS version 26 software.
Descriptive analysis was done and Bi-variable Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to
identify association between dependent and independent variable at 95% CI, α=0.05 and those with
P<0.25 were moved to Multi- variable Binary logistic regression to identify their significance with the
dependent variable. Variables with P< 0.05 were taken as predictor of adherence to iron folate.
Result: Out of the total 732 pregnant mothers, 700 participated making in the study response rate of
96%. The study finding revealed that 61% (95%CI=57.7%-64.5%) of the participants adhered to Iron
folate supplementation. Being having Educational status: College and above [AOR 95% CI= 3.74 (1.47,
9.55), being Urban [ AOR 95% CI = 2.09 (1.38, 3.16)], Nulliparous [AOR95%CI = 3.52 (1.92,6.46)],
Primipara [AOR 95% CI=2.10( 1.256, 3.52)], number of ANC contact [AOR95%CI=1.79(1.08, 2.99)]
and getting IFAS free of charge[AOR95%CI=2.01 (1.42, 2.86)]were positively and significantly
associated with adherence to Iron folate. Whereas, previous history of anemia [AOR 95% CI=0.64 (0.42,
0.88)] and having good knowledge about anemia [AOR 95% CI = 0.658 (0.46, 0.96)] were negatively
associated with Adherence to Iron folate.
Conclusion and recommendation: Majority of the pregnant mothers were Adherent to iron folate.
Factors such as Residence, women education, history of anemia, parity and getting Iron folate free of
charge were positively and significantly associated with adherence to iron folate. Therefore, counseling
and awareness creation about the benefits of iron folate should be strengthened during ANC follow up
