Iron Folic Acid Tablet Adherence and Perceived Symptoms of Primi Gravida Mothers - A Descriptive study

Background: Iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements are vital during pregnancy, particularly for primigravida mothers to prevent anaemia and support healthy fetal development. Adherence to these supplements ensures adequate iron is stored and reduces the risk of complications such as low birth weight, preterm delivery and neural tube defects. However adherence can be affected by factors like perceived side effects, lack of knowledge and inconsistent counselling from healthcare providers. This study explores the adherence patterns among primigravida mothers, alongside the symptoms they report while taking IFA supplements to provide insights that can enhance prenatal care and improve maternal health outcomes. Objectives: The study’s main objectives were to assess the levels of adherence to Iron folic acid tablet and perceived symptoms among primi gravida mothers, examine their correlation and identify associations with demographic variables. Materials and Methods: The present study uses a Probability Simple random sampling technique and the researcher adopted a non-experimental descriptive research design with 60 samples. The tools include Socio-Demographic data, the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale. Results: The findings revealed that 76.67% exhibited good adherence, while 80% reported mild symptoms. A significant negative moderate correlation was found indicating that increased adherence scores were associated with decreased symptom scores. Additionally, mothers over 25 years old were aware of anaemia's complications in low birth weight babies and informed about iron-rich foods showed better adherence. Statistical significance was assessed using the chi-square test. Conclusion: The study concluded that primigravida mothers' adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation was influenced by their knowledge, perceived side effects and the quality of healthcare counselling they received. Improved education on the importance of supplementation and addressing concerns regarding side effects can significantly enhance adherence. This will contribute to better maternal and fetal health outcomes by ensuring proper nutrient intake during pregnancy.