ISSN 2736-1594
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ISSN 2736-1594, Vol. 14 (2), pp. 001-009, February, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Factors Influencing Optimum Iron-Folate Intake Among Antenatal Mothers in Kenya
Juma M.1,2, Oiye Shadrack O.3 and Konyole Silvernus O.3,4
1Department of Nursing, Kenya Medical Training Centre, P.O Box 30195, Nairobi, Kenya.
2Great Lakes University of Kisumu, P.O Box 2224-40100, Kisumu, Kenya.
3Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), University of Nairobi, P.O Box 19676 – 00200 Nairobi, Kenya.
4Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, P. O Box 190-50100, Kakamega, Kenya.
Accepted 29 September, 2025
There is depressed prevalence of the optimum iron-folate supplementation in Kenya and in other sub- Saharan Africa countries. The study was motivated by the paucity of area-specific data on predictors of optimum iron-folate supplementation. The aim of the study was to assess the maternal, knowledge and institutional factors that predict 90+ days (optimum) iron-folate supplementation among pregnant women in a rural set-up in Eastern Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study to collect quantitative data from 352 mothers of under-five years old children attending 7 health facilities in Kalama Division of Machakos constituency within Machakos County in lower Eastern Kenya. Using a standard questionnaire, mothers recalled the number of days they had ingested iron-folate supplements in their latest pregnancies. The overall prevalence of optimum supplementation (90+ days) during latest pregnancies was 18.3% and on average the study mothers were supplemented for ~38 days during the antenatal period. Mothers who visited antenatal care (ANC) for ≥4days (odd ratio [OR]: 2.756, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.396-5.445) were more likely to take iron-folate supplements for 90+ days and be supplemented for more days (45.8) than <4 days visitors (26.2 days), p=0.017. Earlier ANC visit was associated with the mean days of supplementation (p=0.006), but not with optimum supplementation (OR: 0.412, 95% CI: 0.236-0.719). Knowledge on supplementation for a minimum of 90 days predicted optimum supplementation (OR: 5.872, 95% CI: 2.945 -11.709). Knowledge on when to start supplementation and importance of supplementation only predicted higher days of supplementation (p<0.05), but not the optimum supplementation. Pregnant women who used tablet form were more likely to be supplemented optimally (OR: 1.007, 95% CI: 1.004-1.116). Those who were supplemented with a combined form of supplement were more likely to have more days of supplementation (p=0.004), but not optimum (OR: 1.125, 95% CI: 0.419-3.021) compared to those who used single iron and folate supplement. To increase the proportion of pregnant mothers taking iron-folate supplements for 90+ days in low resource rural set-ups, there should be intensified counselling/education on ANC attendance ≥ 4 times and on minimum number of days for optimum iron-folate supplementation. Use of tablets as opposed to syrup increases the likelihood for antenatal ingestion of iron-folate supplements for 90+ days in rural low-resource set-up.
Key words: Predictors, optimum supplementation, iron-folate supplements, pregnant women.