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

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