Abstract
Anemia in pregnancy is a risk factor for maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), the most common type of anemia in pregnancy, adversely affects the wellbeing of both the mother and the child. Iron–folic acid supplementation (IFAS), a cost-effective public health intervention of IDA in pregnancy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is implemented globally with the Philippines included. However, only 19% of Filipino pregnant women take the recommended number of 180 IFAS tablets. This is considered a factor in the prevalence of anemia in pregnancy. Very low IFAS uptake was due to the behaviors and practices of both pregnant women and healthcare providers. Limited awareness on the impact of anemia in pregnancy and the significance of IFAS, late and less frequent antenatal care (ANC) visits, experience of side effects and unpleasant taste of the supplement, and not receiving or purchasing supplements were the identified factors to low IFAS compliance. Among healthcare providers, a low level of IFAS compliance was found to be related to the late reporting of pregnant women to the antenatal facility, and inability to motivate and provide appropriate counseling regarding the supplementation’s use and significance. Behaviors and practices of pregnant mothers toward IFAS compliance appear to be a result of healthcare providers’ inadequate healthcare services. Therefore, healthcare providers need to improve their ANC program and revisit their approaches on existing health and nutrition promotion programs, health education and counseling techniques, follow-up and monitoring strategies, and ANC visits promotion efforts. These efforts were found effective in well-informed and empowered pregnant women to IFAS compliance and other significant ANC access. Improved IFAS compliance will eventually contribute to lower the prevalence of anemia in pregnancy for better maternal and neonatal outcomes.
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