Factors associated with receiving iron supplements during pregnancy among women in Indonesia

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Anemia during pregnancy is a significant threat to health and safety of mothers and children.<br /> <b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to investigate factors associated with receiving iron supplements during pregnancy among women in Indonesia.<br /> <b>Methods:</b> This study used data from the Indonesian demographic and health survey 2017. The dataset used was individual data with a target population of women aged 15-49. A total of 14,564 women aged from 15 to 49 years were included in the analysis. A binary logistic regression model explored associations between the independent variables and the received iron supplements.<br /> <b>Results: </b>In this study,<b> </b>most interviewed women (n=12,939; 88.84%) received iron supplements during pregnancy. Factors found to be associated with receiving iron supplements during pregnancy included pregnant women aged >35 years (AOR=2.20; 95% CI=1.34-3.61), lived in the eastern and middle part of Indonesia (AOR=1.71; 95% CI=1.20-2.42; AOR=1.75; 95% CI=1.49-2.06), attended antenatal care consultations (AOR=1.40; 95% CI=1.18-1.65), had blood tests (AOR=1.52; 95% CI=1.32-1.76), knew the signs and symptoms of danger of pregnancy complications (AOR=1.56; 95% CI=1.29-1.89), had vaginal bleeding during pregnancy (AOR=1.25; 95% CI=1.03-1.50), had 1-2 total children ever born (AOR=1.18; 95% CI=1.00-1.40), and were exposed to information via the Internet (AOR=1.18; 95% CI=1.00-1.39) and newspapers or magazines (AOR=1.17; 95% CI=1.01-1.35).<br /> <b>Conclusions:</b> The study highlighted that despite free access to iron supplementation during pregnancy, some women failed to receive iron supplements during pregnancy. Also, women of reproductive age living in the eastern part of Indonesia, who did not have blood tests, were absent from attending antenatal care and did not know the signs and symptoms of dangerous pregnancy complications were among those who failed to receive iron supplements during pregnancy. Thus, identifying and promoting awareness of those at high risk of not receiving iron supplements should be a priority for the government and health workers in providing health services.