Prevalence of and factors associated with antenatal care seeking and adherence to recommended iron-folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Zinder, Niger.

ABSTRACT

The World Health Organization recommends iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation for pregnant women. The high prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in Niger warrants better understanding of the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and IFA. We aimed to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with ANC coverage and adherence to IFA recommendation among pregnant women. Pregnant women (n = 923) from 64 randomly selected villages within the catchment area of 12 health centres were interviewed during a baseline household survey in Zinder, Niger. ANC and IFA coverage were 60.1% and 43.6%, respectively. Only 71.7% of women who attended ANC received IFA. Of the 401 women who reportedly received any IFA supplements, 99.3% had attended any ANC during their current pregnancy and 68.6% reported adherence to recommended IFA supplementation (i.e., consumed IFA every day in the previous week). Women with gestational age ≥27 weeks were more likely to have attended ANC than women with gestational age <27 weeks (85.9% vs. 27.5%, odds ratio [OR] 21.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.81, 34.45). Women who reportedly received husbands' advice about attending ANC were more likely to attend ANC (OR 1.48, 95% CI [1.03, 2.11]) and adhere to IFA recommendations (OR 1.80, 95% CI [1.04, 3.13]) compared to those who did not receive any advice. ANC attendance is crucial to ensure distribution of IFA supplementation among pregnant women in Zinder. Interventions to improve ANC and IFA adherence will require promotion of early ANC, ensure availability of IFA at ANC, and involve husbands in ANC.