"Awareness And Practices Of Iron Consumption And Their Impact On The Prevalence Of IDA Among Pregnant Women: A Study At Federal General Hospital, Islamabad

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health issue, particularly among pregnant women, due to its association with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. This study aims to assess awareness, practices, and perceived barriers related to iron consumption during pregnancy among women attending the Gynecology OPD at Federal General Hospital, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women. Awareness was evaluated using five questions related to iron consumption, with scores categorized into low, moderate, and high awareness. Practices were assessed using five additional questions, and cumulative practice scores were classified as poor, insufficient, or good. Perceived barriers, side effects of iron supplements, and counselling received from healthcare providers were also explored. Serum haemoglobin levels from pathology lab reports were classified into anaemia severity categories using WHO criteria. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate associations between awareness, practices, and demographic variables.
Results: The study revealed a moderate overall awareness score of 0.53 (SD = 0.199). Higher education, urban residence, employment, and higher income were significantly associated with better awareness levels (p < 0.005). Practices related to iron consumption were below average, with a cumulative practice score of 0.35 (SD = 0.197). Employed women, urban residents, and those with higher education exhibited better practices (p < 0.005). Major barriers to regular iron supplement intake included forgetfulness (29.5%), side effects (26.5%), and cost (18.2%). Approximately 48.4% of participants reported insufficient counselling from healthcare providers. Most women (49.3%) had moderate anaemia, with no significant associations between anaemia severity and awareness or practices.
Conclusion: Despite moderate awareness, poor practices and significant barriers hinder optimal iron consumption among pregnant women. Enhancing education, healthcare provider counselling, and accessibility to iron supplements are crucial to improving maternal health outcomes.