Socio-Demographic and Obstetrical Factors Influencing Consumption of Iron and Calcium Supplement In A Rural Community

Abstract

Background: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy has a proven potential to reduce adverse gestational outcomes, in particular by decreasing the risk of developing hypertensive disorders during gestation.
 Objective: to evaluate various factors influencing the consumption of iron folic acid and calcium tablets supplementation during pregnancy.
 Methodology: A community based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 women in the rural field practice area of Jhalawar. Data were collected by house to house visit and analysed using chi-square test.
 Results: Only 55.5% pregnant women have taken IFA tablets while 23.5% women have taken tablets of calcium during their pregnancy. IFA consumption were significantly associated with level of education of women and their husband, socio-economic class, type of family, number of ANC visits and presence of husband during those visits and mass media exposure Calcium consumption were also associated with level of education of women, socio-economic class, number of ANC visits and presence of husband during those visits.
 Conclusions: Consumption of IFA tablets was higher than the national level however calcium consumption was low. Emphasis should be given on early registration, multiple ANC visits, role of family and husband in caring of mother during pregnancy to improve consumptions of IFA and Calcium supplements.