Enabling Factors for Iron Folic Acid Compliance among Women in Indonesia: Insights from the Recent Indonesia Demographic & Health Survey, 2012

Abstract

Objectives: Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most widely prevalent nutritional deficiency contributing to substantially to the global burden of disease in the world, including in Indonesia. According to Indonesia’s National Household Health Survey, 2001 the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 40.1% [1]. The prevalence in 2008 was 44% [2] which indicated that the situation had not improved over time; in fact anaemia prevalence had increased marginally. So, this study tries to explore the socio-demographic enablers of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) compliance [1] Indonesia Health Profile 2010. Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, 2011. [2] Tracking Progress on Child and Maternal Nutrition: A Survival and Development Priority. UNICEF, 2009. Methods: Both Bivariate and Multivariate analyses were carried out on the recent Indonesia Demographic & Health Survey, 2012 data using SPSS software. Results: After adjusting for related socio-economic and demographic factors, exposure to newspaper seem to have an important role in predicting consumption of IFA, (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]: 1.179, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.084-1.283) and those who listened to radio are more likely to consume IFA (AOR: 1.099, 95% CI: 1.017-1.188). In addition to this, it was found that those who had received a Tetanus Toxoid injection were more likely to consume IFA. Conclusions: Focus needs to be there on mass media channels and the ANC channel of contact with the pregnant women, where she can be given the full course of IFA, while taking the weight and giving TT injection, during ANC checkups to increase compliance.