Abstract:
Background: Adolescent nutrition is important to the health of girls and is relevant to maternal nutrition. Especially, pregnancies in adolescence have a higher risk of complications and higher mortality for mothers, infants and children, as well as poorer overall birth outcomes than pregnancies in older women. Taking this into consideration, the Ethiopian National Nutrition Program II has given emphasis to access to micronutrient Services by providing school based biannual deworming and provision of iron folic acid supplementation for adolescent girls at schools and health facilities.
Objective: To assess the Compliance to Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation and identify associated factors among Adolescent Girls aged 10-19 years in Debub Acheferworeda, Amhara Region
Method: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted in t Debub Acheferworeda, West Gojam Zone, Amhara Region State. Data collection was conducted from13 – 31 of January 2020 in six selected schools using semi-structured questionnaire a. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection employed. Data managed using SPSS software version 20.
Results: A total of 543 adolescent girls participated in the study of which 506 (93.2%) of them were taking IFA during the time of data collection. Among the respondents w 349(66.1%) of them have been taking IFA for three months or above. From those who interrupted taking IFA, 59(55.9%) of them reported non-compliance because of absents from school during supplementation. Of the total participants only 25.8% of them accessed any type of SBCC materials related to WIFAS. More over 431(79.4%) have no information on dosage and duration within a year. Access to SBCC material and consultation with family members on the issue of IFA supplementation were positively associated with compliance of Weekly Iron Supplementation in adolescent girls.
Conclusion: Significant numbers of adolescents were not taking the weekly Iron and Folic Acid as per the national guideline. Access to behavioral change communication materials and support from family members of adolescent girls were significant predictors of compliance with the IFAS.
Recommendation: Adolescent girls and their family members shall get SBCC material and awareness on benefits of IFA supplementation modalities and consequences of micronutrient deficiencies.. Access to Behavioral change Communication materials and support from family members of adolescent girls were significant predictors of compliance with the IFAS.