Submit Manuscript

Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2017 | Volume: 16 | Issue: 7 | Page No.: 531-537
Research Article

Factors Influencing Adherence to Folic Acid and Ferrous Sulphate Nutritional Intake among Pregnant Teenagers in Buffalo City Municipality, South Africa

Z. Kalipa
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
D.T. Goon
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
E.M. Yako
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
A. Okeyo
Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare, East London, South Africa
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing folic acid/ferrous sulphate nutritional intake among pregnant teenagers in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM), Eastern Cape in South Africa. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study involving 300 purposively selected pregnant teenagers aged between 13-19 years, who were attending antennal clinic in BCMM. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The majority (97.0%) of the participants obtained their supplements from the clinic; took other medications (87.2%); regularly used nutritional supplements (71.7%); agreed that folic acid and ferrous sulphate were important for pregnancy outcomes (96%); should be taken before pregnancy and after birth (68.2%) and nurses had explained the possible pregnancy complications (71.7%). About 84.1% agreed that the medication containers were clearly labelled; and nurses had explained the side effects of folic acid/ferrous folate (60.7%) and the likely action in case of side effects occurred (56%). The majority of the participants also agreed that folic acid and ferrous sulphate are good for the unborn baby (88%) and are harmless to the unborn baby (75.3%). The majority (49.2%) of the participants did not consume dark leafy vegetables, cabbage (35.0%), liver (47.1%), beef/lamb (42.0%), fish (43.3%) and beans/legumes (36.4%). Participants indicated that folic acid and ferrous sulphate made them feel nauseous, inclined to vomit and also caused stomach pain. Conclusion: The majority of pregnant teenagers received their nutritional supplements from the health facilities over the counter. The study indicated that nausea, vomiting, forgetting to take the supplements due to busy schedules, non-availability of folic acid and ferrous sulphate in health facilities were the major reasons influencing the intake of folic acid and ferrous sulphate by pregnant teenagers. Also, there is low consumption of iron and folate rich foods by pregnant teenagers in this setting. Health practitioners including doctors, nurses and community health care workers needed to improve health education by including information on nutritional supplements and the importance and use of folic acid and ferrous sulphate during pregnancy.
PDF Fulltext XML References Citation

Leave a Comment

See More

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Article Trend

Total views 5469

References

  1. Fieggen, G., K. Fieggen, C. Stewart, L. Padayachy and J. Lazarus et al., 2014. Spina bifida: A multidisciplinary perspective on a many-faceted condition. SAMJ: S. Afr. Med. J., 104: 213-217.
    Direct Link
  2. Yi, Y., M. Lindemann, A. Colligs and C. Snowball, 2011. Economic burden of neural tube defects and impact of prevention with folic acid: A literature review. Eur. J. Pediatr., 170: 1391-1400.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  3. Yakoob, M.Y., E.V. Menezes, T. Soomro, R.A. Haws, G.L. Darmstadt and Z.A. Bhutta, 2009. Reducing stillbirths: Behavioural and nutritional interventions before and during pregnancy. BMC Pregnancy Childbirt, Vol. 9.
    Direct Link
  4. Haider, B.A., I. Olofin, M. Wang, D. Spiegelman, M. Ezzati and W.W. Fawzi, 2013. Anaemia, prenatal iron use and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Br. Med. J., Vol. 346.
    Direct Link
  5. Deb, S., 2015. Emplementation of national iron plus initiative for child health: Challanges ahead. Indian J. Public Health, 59: 1-2.
    Direct Link
  6. WHO., 2015. The global prevalence of anaemia in 2011. World Health Organisation, Geneva.
  7. Cape, W., R.L. Mamabolo, M. Alberts, N.P. Steyn, H.A.D.V. de Waal, N.G. Nthangeni and N.S. Levitt, 2004. Evaluation of the effectiveness of iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy in a rural area of Limpopo province. S. Afr. J. Clin. Nutr., 17: 15-21.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  8. Kassebaum, N.J., R. Jasrasaria, M. Naghavi, S.K. Wulf and N. Johns et al., 2014. A systematic analysis of global anemia burden from 1990 to 2010. Blood, 123: 615-624.
    Direct Link
  9. Black, R.E., C.G. Victora, S.P. Walker, Z.A. Bhutta and P. Christian et al., 2013. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet, 382: 427-451.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  10. Black, R.E., 2014. Global Distribution and Disease Burden Related to Micronutrient Deficiencies. In: International Nutrition: Achieving Millennium Goals and Beyond, Karger, S. (Ed.). Nestle Nutrition Institute, London, pp: 21-28.
  11. Niquini, R.P., S.D. de Azevedo Bittencourt, E.M. de Aquino Lacerda, C. Saunders and M. do Carmo Leal, 2016. Factors associated with non-adherence to prescribed iron supplement use: A study with pregnant women in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rev. Brasil. Saude Materno Infantil, 16: 189-199.
    Direct Link
  12. DHSA. and UNICEF., 2016. A reflection of the South African maize meal and wheat flour fortification programme (2004 to 2007). The Department of Health South Africa and UNICEF South Africa. https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/SAF_resources_wheatfortificationn.pdf.
  13. Achema, G., A. Emmanuel and A.O. Moses, 2015. Factors responsible for teenage pregnancy and its implication on adolescent health and education: Perception of secondary school students in Nigeria. Int. J. Med. Health Res., 1: 48-51.
    Direct Link
  14. Robertson, H.L., N.P. Steyn, P.A. Venter and A.L. Christianson, 1997. Neural tube defects and folic acid: A South African perspective. S. Afr. Med. J., 87: 928-931.
  15. Ncayiyana, D.J., 1986. Neural tube defects among rural blacks in a Transkei district: A preliminary report and analysis. S. Afr. Med. J., 69: 618-620.
    Direct Link
  16. Sayed, A.R., D. Bourne, R. Pattinson, J. Nixon and B. Henderson, 2008. Decline in the prevalence of neural tube defects following folic acid fortification and its cost‐benefit in South Africa. Birth Defects Res. Part A: Clin. Mol. Teratol., 82: 211-216.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  17. Titaley, C.R. and M.J. Dibley, 2015. Factors associated with not using antenatal iron/folic acid supplements in Indonesia: The 2002/2003 and 2007 Indonesia demographic and health survey. Asia Pac. J. Clin. Nutr., 24: 162-176.
    Direct Link
  18. Seck, B.C. and R.T. Jackson, 2009. Providing iron/folic acid tablets free of charge improves compliance in pregnant women in Senegal. Trans. R. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg., 103: 485-492.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  19. Bannink, F., R. Larok, P. Kirabira, L. Bauwens and G. van Hove, 2015. Prevention of spina bifida: Folic acid intake during pregnancy in Gulu district, Northern Uganda. Pan Afr. Med. J., Vol. 20.
    Direct Link
  20. Lucas, C., K.E. Charlton and H. Yeatman, 2014. Nutrition advice during pregnancy: Do women receive it and can health professionals provide it? Mater. Child Health J., 18: 2465-2478.
    Direct Link
  21. Bixenstine, P.J., T.L. Cheng, D. Cheng, K.A. Connor and K.B. Mistry, 2015. Association between preconception counseling and folic acid supplementation before pregnancy and reasons for non-use. Maternal Child Health J., 19: 1974-1984.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  22. Obican, S.G., R.H. Finnell, J.L. Mills, G.M. Shaw and A.R. Scialli, 2010. Folic acid in early pregnancy: A public health success story. FASEB J., 24: 4167-4174.
    CrossRefPubMedDirect Link
  23. Arrish, J., H. Yeatman and M. Williamson, 2016. Australian midwives and provision of nutrition education during pregnancy: A cross sectional survey of nutrition knowledge, attitudes and confidence. Women Birth, 29: 455-464.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  24. WHO., 2012. Daily Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant Woman. World Health Organisation, Geneva.
  25. Eswi, A., R.M.N. Aboushady and A.A.A. El Hamed, 2014. Knowledge of pregnant women regarding folic acid: A suggested plan of action. Int. J. Health Sci. Res., 4: 195-205.
    Direct Link
  26. Dinga, A.L., 2013. Factors associated with adherence to iron/folate supplementation among pregnant woman attending antenatal clinic at Thika district hospital in Kiambu County, Kenya. Master's Thesis, Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi.
  27. Ghomian, N., L. Hafizi and Z. Takhti, 2013. The role of vitamin C in prevention of preterm premature rupture of membranes. Iran Red Crescent Med. J., 15: 113-116.
    Direct Link

Keywords