| dc.description.abstract | 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. | en_US |
