Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the Girls' Iron Folate Tablet Supplementation program among adolescent girls in the Bono Region: a cross sectional survey

Abstract

Introduction: iron supplementation is one of the primary cornerstone treatments for reducing anaemia in pregnant women, and its adoption is important for reducing anaemia to tolerable levels. About 33% of women of reproductive age worldwide are anaemic. As a result, women are more likely to enter pregnancy with less-than optimal iron stores, which may have negative consequences for them and their offspring, including an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and low birth weight, as well as impaired physical and neurological development. This study aims to determine the challenges of implementing the Girl Iron Folate Tablet Supplementation (GIFTS) program among adolescent girls. Methods: this was a cross sectional descriptive study involving females at Fiapre Methodist and Saint Thomas Junior High Schools at Fiapre in the Sunyani West Municipality. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge on anaemia, knowledge on GIFTS program barriers and facilitators of the GIFTS program using a face-to-face semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were done to determine knowledge on anaemia and GIFTS program while a Chi-square analysis was performed to determine factors influencing iron and folic acid (IFA) utilization. Results: a total of 138 participants were included in this study. Knowledge and compliance with the IFAS program among adolescent girls were good (84.1%). Lack of information, opposition from their family and fear of side effects of the tablets were seen as the major barriers to compliance. The Chi-square test of independence revealed no significant association between socio-demographic characteristics. Iron fortification of foods and/or changing composition of iron preparation to avoid side effects may also be considered in the future. Conclusion: knowledge and compliance with the IFAS program among adolescent girls were good. Majority of the respondents (70.6%) reported that they stopped taking the supplements temporary after they encountered problems as a measure. Including community leaders religious and community leaders, provision of education and counselling and reducing long waiting hours were to be the major promoting factors to the implementation of the WIFA program.