[Pregnant Colombian females' iron intake in drug form]

Describing a group of pregnant Colombian females' iron intake, in drug form.

This was an observational descriptive study; information was collected in 4 Colombian cities regarding pregnant females during antenatal control or when giving birth. Information sources consisted of interviews with pregnant women and their clinical records.

The sample consisted of 1,637 females attending 15 institutions. An iron intake was recommended for 1, 396 women (85.3 %); a doctor made such recommendation in 85.3 % of cases and adherence was 86.8 %. Health insurance was used by 84.7 % of the females for supplying iron; 11.9 % of them bought it themselves. Iron intake as medication for anemic pregnant females was 90.0 % and 82.8 % in non-anemic ones. Iron intake supply was appropriate in 37.2 % of the pregnant females (i.e. they needed it, someone recommended it for them and they consumed it, or they didn't need it, someone didn't recommend it to them and/or they did not take it).

Iron intake was recommended and consumed regardless of anemia status. The results invite to think on the usefulness of programs promoting the mass intake of iron as a medication during pregnancy. Such programs seem to be unaware of the fundamental causes of people's nutritional problems.