EXPECTANT MOTHERS’ SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH IRON-RICH DIET ADHERENCE: A MULTI-CENTER CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background of the study: The needs for the iron absorption in pregnancy increases as the pregnancy advanced. This higher physiological needs pose demands for iron-rich dietary intake, which in turn depend on both the quantity and quality of diet that a woman takes. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the expectant mothers’ socio-demographic factors and their association with iron-rich diet adherence at Federal Teaching Hospital Birnin-kebbi, Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital Birnin Kebbi, and Kebbi Medical Center, Birnin Keebi. Materials and Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The population of the study was expectant mothers who were attending antenatal care at the three tertiary hospitals. A consecutive sampling technique was used for the study and sample obtained was 331. Data were collected within three months using questionnaire generated from reviewed literature. Date were analysed using SPSS version 27.0 and presented in frequencies and percentages. Chi-square statistical tool was used for testing the hypotheses. Research ethical approval was obtained from Kebbi State Health Research Ethical Committee (107:003/2024). Results: The results of the study reveal that only 35.0% were able to give 3 examples of iron-rich foods. Majority of the respondents (76.7%) were not aware of foods that help the body absorb and use iron, and only 8.5% were able to mention 3 foods that help the body absorb and use iron. Moreover, 81.3% of the respondents did not know the beverages that decrease iron absorption, with only 2.1% that mentioned 3 examples of the beverages that decrease iron absorption. The least Mean adherence was found in eating insect food (Mean 2.6, sd 1.1), followed by eating organ meat and eating vitamin C-rich foods (Mean 2.8, sd 1.0 respectively), as well as eating flesh meat (Mean 2.9, sd 0.9). It was found that 12.7% of the respondents had low level of adherence to iron-rich diet. However, only 39.0% were found to have a high level of adherence. There was significant association between the assessed demographic factors and adherence to iron-rich diet, P<0.01 (for educational level, socio-economic status and education) and P<0.05 (for age brackets). Conclusion: There was a lack of knowledge regarding iron-rich diet among the respondents. This knowledge deficit is more pronounced in not knowing foods that help the body absorb and use iron and food that decrease iron absorption. Also, adherence to iron-rich diet need to be checked as only about two-fifths of the respondents were having a high level of adherence. Midwives need to put on more efforts on educating expectant mothers about iron-rich diet with emphasis on teenager expectant mothers, and those from low socio-economic class.

Keywords: Adherence; Diet; Iron-rich; Knowledge