[Prenatal supplementations of iron, iron-containing multimicronutrients and antianemic Chinese patent medicines in women in Shaanxi province, 2010-2013].

Abstract

Objective: To understand the prevalence of prenatal supplementations of iron, iron-containing multi-micronutrients (IMMN) and antianemic Chinese patent medicines (ACPM) and associated factors in women in Shaanxi province. Methods: A sample of 28 367 childbearing-age women who gave birth during 2010-2013 and had specific information of the prenatal nutrients supplementation were recruited using stratified multistage cluster random sampling in Shaanxi province. The information about their basic characteristics and prenatal supplementation of nutrients were collected by a questionnaire survey. Descriptive analysis method was used to analyze the intake rate of iron, IMMN and ACPM during each period of pregnancy, and logistic regression model was used to identify associated factors. Results: The overall prevalence of prenatal iron, IMMN and ACPM supplementation was low (28.99%), and the intake rate of iron was the lowest (5.33%). The prevalence of prenatal supplementation of iron, IMMN and ACPM were lower before pregnancy and in the first trimester than in the second and third trimester. The intake rates for consecutive 2 periods were very low (all were lower than 2.00%). The intake rates of iron, IMMN and ACPM significantly increased year by year. Women living in central Shaanxi had relatively high intake rates of iron (7.22%) and IMMN (16.55%), and women in southern Shaanxi had relatively high intake rate of ACPM (18.50%). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that higher educational level (OR=1.920, 95%CI: 1.617-2.279), antenatal care times≥6 (OR=1.832, 95%CI: 1.604-2.091), etc. were the positive factors for iron intake, and these positive factors were similar to those for IMMN intake. Additionally, rural residence was the negative factor for IMMN intake (compared with urban residence, OR=0.872, 95%CI: 0.788-0.966). Conversely, higher educational level (OR=0.855, 95%CI: 0.746-0.979), higher household income (OR=0.864, 95%CI: 0.796-0.938) were negative factors for ACPM intake, and rural residence was its positive factor (OR=1.285, 95%CI: 1.141-1.447). Conclusions: The prevalence of prenatal supplementation of iron, IMMN and ACPM were low in women in Shaanxi, especially the intake rate of iron was the lowest. The prophylactic iron supplementation before pregnancy or in the first trimester was rare. Measures should be taken to improve the prenatal supplementation of iron in Shaanxi and to standardize the clinical use of ACPM.