Effect of counselling and text message reminder on the uptake and adherence of iron and folic acid supplements among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Gwagwalada, Abuja

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Innovative strategies are required to mitigate poor compliance to iron-folic acid supplementation and associated high burden of anaemia in Nigeria. Objectives: This study was designed to assess how counselling and text message reminders could improve the uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements among Nigerian pregnant women. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design with a simple random sampling of 153 respondents equally allocated into three groups; counselling ( A), counselling and text message reminders (B), and control (C). Adherence to the supplements was assessed using pill count and the 8-item Morisky adherence questionnaire. Parametric and nonparametric analyses were utilized to evaluate survey results across the two interventions. Results: Age of respondents (years) was 31.23±5.05, 31.97±5.63 and 26.63±6.25 for Groups A, B and C, respectively. Self-report adherence was 71.96±13.62, 68.02±11.56, and 65.19±11.84 in group B, A and C, respectively. Folic acid adherence was 91.62±7.98, 89.61±8.62, and 88.57±14.10; while iron adherence was 91.29±8.03, 89.36±8.86 and 88.55±14.00 in group B, C and A, respectively. Group A was 2.6 times more likely to have poor folic acid adherence, 4.0 times more likely to have poor iron adherence and 1.6 times more likely to have poor self-report adherence compared to group B. Conclusion: Counselling and text message reminders are more effective than antenatal counselling alone in improving uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements among Nigerian pregnant women. Efforts to prevent iron deciency anaemia among Nigeria women should incorporate counselling and text message reminders to enhance adherence to uptake and adherence to iron-folic acid supplements.