Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Adherence to iron supplements among women receiving antenatal care at Mulago National Referral Hospital,
Tusuubira S Kiwanuka1, Sam Ononge1, Paul Kiondo1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Background:
Antenatal iron supplementation is a cost effective way of reducing iron deficiency anaemia among pregnant women in resource limited countries like Uganda. Poor adherence to iron supplements has limited its effectiveness in reducing maternal anaemia as evidenced by the high burden of iron deficiency anemia in Sub-saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the level of and factors associated with adherence to iron supplementation among women attending antenatal clinic at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Methods:
Three hundred and seventy pregnant women were recruited in a cross sectional survey in Mulago National Referral Hospital antenatal clinic after informed consent between February and April 2014. Levels of adherence to iron supplements were assessed using visual analogue scale and factors associated collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire.
Results:
About 12% (11.6%) of the mothers attending the antenatal clinic adhered to iron supplements over 30 day period. Mothers who had had four or more antenatal visits prior to the survey [odds ratio (OR) = 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.97], had more than 2 week supply of iron supplements in the previous visit (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.02-1.09), prior health education (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.07-2.29) were more likely to adhere to iron supplements. Inadequate drug supplies and fear for side effects were the main reasons why participants missed the iron supplements.
Conclusions:
There was low adherence to iron supplements among mothers attending antenatal clinic at Mulago National Referral Hospital. We recommend a national evaluation of adherence to iron supplements and look at ways of increasing adherence.
