Compliance with Iron Supplementation among Women during Postnatal Period at UNRWA Clinics in Gaza Governorates
Date
2009-02-01
Authors
Najwa Mossleh
نجوى احمد خليل مصلح
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Al-Quds University
Abstract
deficiency anaemia is one of the most neglected and wide spread nutrition related
disorders; it is the most common type of anaemia among women in reproductive age, in
spite of all effort to combat it. Iron supplementary is a tool in the battle, struggling against
iron deficiency anaemia. UNRWA adopted the WHO strategy for prevention and treatment
of iron deficiency anaemia, through providing iron supplementation since the early 90s,
however anemia prevalence is still high among target group, and compliance to
supplement is suffering from low prevalence rate during pregnancy and post-natal period.
The postnatal period is a neglected issue in most of the world countries and in Palestine
specially.
This study aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of compliance with iron supplementation
among women during post natal period at UNRWA clinics in Gaza Governorates, to define
the factors affecting the compliance, and to examine the trend of compliance during postnatal
and antenatal period.
The study was conducted at UNRWA PHC clinics in Gaza Governorates. A quantitative,
analytic, cross sectional design was conducted, to collect data from randomly selected
three health centers. The sample of 400 subjects was randomly selected and met the
inclusion criteria.
An exit interviewed questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection with structured
closed ended questions, after data collection analysis of data was done using SPSS.
The study results showed that the compliance rate of 46.7% was among women during
postnatal period, while the compliance rate reached 94.5% among women during
antenatal.
Factors significantly associated with compliance of post natal women regarding iron
supplementation, at p-value ≤ 0.05, were governorates, place of residency and husband
education level. From among the obstetric variables of the study; number of visits to the
health centers during pregnancy, number of times receiving the iron supplement and Hb
level during antenatal and postnatal period showed statistically significant differences in
respect to iron compliance. Moreover reasons of noncompliance and the specified side
effect reflected statistically significant differences. All counseling variables of this study
were found to have statistically significant association with compliance like counseling
about anemia and iron supplementation. Regarding the practice variables; Hb level &
decision to take iron, receiving iron or not, the number of times receiving the supplements
and the regularity of receiving it were significantly associated with compliance.
From among the study variables, many have failed to prove statistically significant
differences; women age, education level and work status of both women and husband,
family income and the household number, marital age, parity, time of registration, breast
feeding, and complication during pregnancy and mode of delivery.
The results of this study suggest that minimum, consistent and easily understandable
information and counseling are key elements to ensure effective programmes for iron
supplementation. Health personnel should encourage and provide information and
recommendations to women during both of their antenatal and post natal visits, promote
benefits of taking iron tablets and perception of susceptibility of women of getting anemia
Description
Keywords
Citation
Mossleh، Najwa Ahmad. (2009). Compliance with Iron Supplementation among
Women during Postnatal Period at UNRWA Clinics in Gaza Governorates [رسالة
ماجستير منشورة، جامعة القدس، فلسطين]. المستودع الرقمي لجامعة القدس. https://arab-
scholars.com/9f9dbf