Abstract:

Background: Globally Guideline estimated that 41.8% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic. At least half of this anaemia burden is assumed to be due to iron deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge and compliance to iron supplement to pregnant women attending Makongoro Health Centre.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study which was conducted among 358 pregnant women who attended Makongoro Health Centre at Nyamagana District Mwanza, women were interviewed though questionnaires and analysis of data was done using SPSS software version 20.

Results: A total of 358 pregnant women who were visiting Makongoro Health Center for antenatal clinic were recruited in this study, where by their respond on knowledge were as follows. 43.0% had excellent knowledge, 56.7% had good knowledge and 0.3% poor knowledge. On compliance, pregnant women defer in the level of compliance, where some comply strictly by 38.3%, moderate compliance 19.6% others were comply by 42.2%. There was association between occupation and drug affordability percent for those who responded business, 61.9% Employed, 33.3% farmer, 28.8% house wife, 29.9% self-employed respectively the p. value was 0.01. There was association between level of education and drug affordability was 62.5%, college, 33.3% form four, 31.9% standard seven and 20.8% incomplete, p. value was 0.04

Conclusion: Despite that those with excellent 43.0% and good knowledge was 56.7% the compliance to iron supplement was low about 38.3% this shows that they have knowledge but there are other factors other than knowledge that lead to low compliance though the responded that they could not afford medicine, side effect and forgetting were the reason no comply. More study should be done to ways of solving the problem and identify other factors which lead them not using iron supplement.