Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.

<h4>Background</h4>Iron and folic acid deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) remains low in Kenya. Despite several studies on IFAS adherence in Kenya, they do not assess the nation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gebrie Getu Alemu, Dagnew Getnet Adugna, Amare Mesfin, Muluken Chanie Agimas, Lemlem Daniel Baffa, Habtamu Wagnew Abuhay, Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke, Tewodros Getaneh Alemu, Nebebe Demis Baykemagn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329458
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850039371102683136
author Gebrie Getu Alemu
Dagnew Getnet Adugna
Amare Mesfin
Muluken Chanie Agimas
Lemlem Daniel Baffa
Habtamu Wagnew Abuhay
Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke
Tewodros Getaneh Alemu
Nebebe Demis Baykemagn
author_facet Gebrie Getu Alemu
Dagnew Getnet Adugna
Amare Mesfin
Muluken Chanie Agimas
Lemlem Daniel Baffa
Habtamu Wagnew Abuhay
Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke
Tewodros Getaneh Alemu
Nebebe Demis Baykemagn
author_sort Gebrie Getu Alemu
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Iron and folic acid deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) remains low in Kenya. Despite several studies on IFAS adherence in Kenya, they do not assess the national scope and clustering effects using advanced analytical models. Therefore, we aimed to assess IFAS adherence and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya using data from the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.<h4>Methods</h4>A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, which was obtained from the official Demographic and Health Survey program database. Weighted samples of 8,460 participants were used in the analysis. The study employed a multivariable multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Variables from the bi-variable model that had p < 0.25 were considered in the multivariable analysis. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant in the multivariable model, and the adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with its 95% CI was reported.<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of IFAS among pregnant women in Kenya was 61.72% (95% CI: 60.68, 62.75). Women aged 20-39 years were 1.3 to 1.7 times more likely to adhere to IFAS during pregnancy, with the likelihood increasing steadily by age group. Moreover, primigravida [aOR = 1.22 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.41)], with a family size of ≥ 10 [aOR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.59, 0.90)], antenatal care visits ≥ 4 [aOR = 3.96 (95% CI: 1.91, 8.23)], first start of antenatal care at the third trimester of pregnancy [aOR = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.62)], and with a higher level of education [aOR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.90)] were statistically significant factors associated with adherence to IFAS.<h4>Conclusion and recommendation</h4>Nearly two in five pregnant women didn't receive IFAS for the recommended periods. Factors such as maternal age, parity, antenatal visits, and education enhanced IFAS adherence, whereas large family size and starting antenatal care in the third trimester of pregnancy reduced adherence. Therefore, the community, government, and non-governmental organizations should enhance adherence by implementing customized interventions on the factors identified as positive and negative associations.
format Article
id doaj-art-1b54580908fa4c3eb9e3ff718471f0f2
institution DOAJ
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-1b54580908fa4c3eb9e3ff718471f0f22025-08-20T02:56:21ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01208e032945810.1371/journal.pone.0329458Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.Gebrie Getu AlemuDagnew Getnet AdugnaAmare MesfinMuluken Chanie AgimasLemlem Daniel BaffaHabtamu Wagnew AbuhayMekuriaw Nibret AwekeTewodros Getaneh AlemuNebebe Demis Baykemagn<h4>Background</h4>Iron and folic acid deficiency is a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) remains low in Kenya. Despite several studies on IFAS adherence in Kenya, they do not assess the national scope and clustering effects using advanced analytical models. Therefore, we aimed to assess IFAS adherence and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya using data from the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.<h4>Methods</h4>A secondary data analysis was conducted using data from the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, which was obtained from the official Demographic and Health Survey program database. Weighted samples of 8,460 participants were used in the analysis. The study employed a multivariable multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Variables from the bi-variable model that had p < 0.25 were considered in the multivariable analysis. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant in the multivariable model, and the adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) with its 95% CI was reported.<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of IFAS among pregnant women in Kenya was 61.72% (95% CI: 60.68, 62.75). Women aged 20-39 years were 1.3 to 1.7 times more likely to adhere to IFAS during pregnancy, with the likelihood increasing steadily by age group. Moreover, primigravida [aOR = 1.22 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.41)], with a family size of ≥ 10 [aOR = 0.72 (95% CI 0.59, 0.90)], antenatal care visits ≥ 4 [aOR = 3.96 (95% CI: 1.91, 8.23)], first start of antenatal care at the third trimester of pregnancy [aOR = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.62)], and with a higher level of education [aOR = 1.6 (95% CI: 1.35, 1.90)] were statistically significant factors associated with adherence to IFAS.<h4>Conclusion and recommendation</h4>Nearly two in five pregnant women didn't receive IFAS for the recommended periods. Factors such as maternal age, parity, antenatal visits, and education enhanced IFAS adherence, whereas large family size and starting antenatal care in the third trimester of pregnancy reduced adherence. Therefore, the community, government, and non-governmental organizations should enhance adherence by implementing customized interventions on the factors identified as positive and negative associations.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329458
spellingShingle Gebrie Getu Alemu
Dagnew Getnet Adugna
Amare Mesfin
Muluken Chanie Agimas
Lemlem Daniel Baffa
Habtamu Wagnew Abuhay
Mekuriaw Nibret Aweke
Tewodros Getaneh Alemu
Nebebe Demis Baykemagn
Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
PLoS ONE
title Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
title_full Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
title_fullStr Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
title_full_unstemmed Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
title_short Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in Kenya: A multilevel data analysis of the 2022 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey.
title_sort adherence to iron folic acid supplementation and its associated factors among pregnant women in kenya a multilevel data analysis of the 2022 kenyan demographic and health survey
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0329458
work_keys_str_mv AT gebriegetualemu adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT dagnewgetnetadugna adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT amaremesfin adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT mulukenchanieagimas adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT lemlemdanielbaffa adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT habtamuwagnewabuhay adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT mekuriawnibretaweke adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT tewodrosgetanehalemu adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey
AT nebebedemisbaykemagn adherencetoironfolicacidsupplementationanditsassociatedfactorsamongpregnantwomeninkenyaamultileveldataanalysisofthe2022kenyandemographicandhealthsurvey