Maternal determinants of non-compliance to folic acid supplementation and iron among pregnant women in Nakuru North Sub-County, Kenya

The objective of the study was to establish the maternal determinants of non-compliance. A cross-sectional study design was used targeting pregnant women aged 18 – 49 years attending antenatal clinic (ANC) in six health facilities in the Nakuru North sub-county. Non-compliance with IFAS was defined as taking supplements for less than 5 out of 7 days per week. The study findings revealed that 27.1 per cent of the respondents were non-compliant. Reasons for non-compliance were given as side effects, bad taste and missed clinics. About a third (37.6%) of the participating pregnant women first visited the Antenatal Clinic when they were over four months pregnant, and (31.8%) indicated that they had not received information on the benefits of IFAS. The odds ratio indicated that pregnant women were more likely to comply if they did not have side effects (OR=1.47) and initiated ANC early (OR=1.33). Therefore, this study demonstrated that the mother-related determinants of non-compliance were lack of knowledge about the benefits of IFAS, side effects and late ANC attendance. Thus, there is a need for a review of the advice given to pregnant mothers visiting ANC to emphasise the need for timely ANC visits, the benefits of IFAS and the management of side effects due to IFAS.