Predictors of Folic Acid Supplement Usage for Preventing Neural Tube Defects among women following antenatal care using health belief model constructes in Mekelle ,Tigray, Ethiopia.
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Date
2019-10
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Neural tube defects mostly happened in the first 28 days of pregnancy. In our
country especially in the study area the prevalence is increasing which is 131 per 10,000 births
and causes more of morbidity and mortality. But It’s known that around 72% of neural tube
defects are preventable by taking adequate amount of folic acid. But in our country the practice
of folic acid supplementation at preconception period is very low which is 1.92%. So, it needs
further improvement and identifying the factors because low utilization of folic acid
supplement mainly contributes for the development of neural tube defects
Objective: To assess the factors associated with folic acid supplement usage among pregnant
women following antenatal care using health belief model constructs in public health facilities
of Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia in 2019.
Method: An institutional based cross-sectional study design was conducted in selected public
health facilities. The total number of study participants were 727. A Pre-tested interviewer
administered questioner were used to retrieve data on socio demographic factors, knowledge
and the health belief model constructs from the mothers who selected by systematic sampling.
Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to see
the association between the predictor and outcome variables. Variables which had P< 0.25
were fitted to the final model and variables with P<0.05 were declared as the variables
independently associated with folic acid supplement usage.
Results: The practice of folic acid supplement was 30/670 (4.5%). Only 7(15.5%) knew the
timing of folic acid intake. Having history of born child with NTD (AOR=0.091;95%CI
0.16,0.499), ever talking about folic acid with doctor, nutritionist, nurse, midwife and friends
(AOR=0.051; 95%CI 0.005,0.482) and perceived threat (AOR= 1.12; 95% CI 1.008,2.002)
were significantly associated with folic acid supplement usage
Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed that knowledge and practice towards
folic acid is very low. Strategies that increase knowledge and awareness toward neural tube
defect prevention should be developed and incorporated at different level of the health care
system.
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Keywords
Folic Acid ,Neural Tube ,antenatal care