ArticleBMC public health2024
A qualitative assessment of barriers to iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant women in Botswana.
Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Artificial intelligence for personalized multiple micronutrient supplementation in maternal health.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Review
- Article
- Healthcare Providers' Perceptions and Experiences of Prenatal Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation-A Qualitative Study in Botswana.Current developments in nutrition · 2026Article
- Maternal nutrition literacy and associated factors as determinant of micronutrient supplementation adherence among Chinese pregnant women: a multi-center cross-sectional study.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Barriers and Facilitators of Compliance with Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation Among Pregnant Women in Southern Afghanistan: A Qualitative Study.Patient preference and adherence · 2026Article
- Fund contraction challenges for supplies for maternal and newborn health services in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Demand- and supply-side barriers and facilitators of the weekly iron and folic acid supplementation programme in Sidama Region, Ethiopia.Journal of nutritional science · 2025Article
- Distribution of Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene Polymorphisms in Women of Childbearing Age in Tai'an.International journal of genomics · 2025Article
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12 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAntenatal iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation remains an effective strategy in the prevention of maternal anemia and low birthweight and is universally recommended by WHO. However, uptake of IFA has varied globally due to challenges with acceptability, supply and distribution, counselling and knowledge, and access to health services. In Botswana, nearly one-third of pregnant women engaged in antenatal care do not receive IFA, despite it being standard of care. The objectives of this study were to assess knowledge of and barriers and facilitators to IFA supplementation before and during pregnancy.
methodsWe conducted qualitative interviews with two key stakeholder groups at two different levels-the individual level (pregnant women) and the service delivery level (health care providers). Here, we present results from interviews with pregnant women at two representative antenatal clinic sites in Botswana in 2022.
resultsPregnant women were motivated to be healthy and were knowledgeable about the benefits of supplementation during pregnancy to mothers and their infants; however, women knew more about the benefits of iron than folic acid. Most women were in favor of receiving IFA supplementation prior to pregnancy and receiving fortified foods. Several key barriers were identified: lack of supplement availability in the clinics, poverty, side effects, number of tablets, and adherence. Approaches to overcome these barriers included improving supplement availability, improving health education, increasing supply of nutritious and fortified foods, backyard gardens, and increasing family and monetary support.
conclusionsOur study identified a need to 1) increase the availability of supplementation at antenatal clinics and 2) improve education regarding supplementation to include information about the benefits of folic acid and other micronutrients. Implementation research is needed to ascertain whether increasing supply and improving education could increase utilization of supplementation during pregnancy, with the ultimate goal of improving maternal and infant outcomes.
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