AWARENESS AND COMPLIANCE TO FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AND GUIDING PHARMACISTS IN WEST BANK (QALQILYA)
| dc.contributor.author | Nazzal, Ruba | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-05T09:15:54Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-05T09:15:54Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-02-29 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Introduction: In pregnant women, susceptibility to folate deficiency could happen from factors such as increased requirements during pregnancy, Undernutrition caused by poverty, food insecurity, and gender inequalities. Furthermore, insufficient knowledge of appropriate dietary practices increases the risk, leading to increased deficiencies in folic acid. Folic acid deficiency correlates with adverse outcomes like preeclampsia, premature birth, neural tube abnormalities, congenital defects, type 2 diabetes, and infant obesity. Method: A quantitative study conducted in Qalqilia from October 1, 2021, to January 7 2023, evaluated the awareness and adherence to folic acid supplementation among 160 pharmacists and 350 pregnant women. The survey investigated pharmacists' awareness, knowledge, and attitudes, as well as the compliance and obstacles faced by pregnant women regarding supplementation. Comprehensive quantitative analysis of the data provided insights into the current levels of awareness and adherence among both pregnant women and pharmacists. Results: The finding indicated that 62.0% of the sample size of participants are city residents, 59.7% of them were between 25-35 years old. And 67.4% has never suffered from anemia, 44.9% of the participants has hemoglobin level between 10-12. The participants had a moderate level of awareness and knowledge regarding the intake of folic acid and iron ,with a mean score ( 1.97 ± 0.32). The level of compliance among participants towards taking supplementation was medium, the level of the barriers that prevent pregnant women using supplements was medium, with mean score (1.99± 0.41). The role of pharmacists in instructing and educating women to intake folic acid was medium, with mean score (2.25±0.50). Conclusion: Pregnant women demonstrated moderate compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation. Factors affecting adherence included the timing of initiating antenatal care, awareness of anemia, guidance on the importance of supplementation, the number of supplements given per visit, the number of children, and the distance to healthcare facilities from the participants’ living locations and the supplements side effects had minimal impact on the intake of folic acid supplementation. Strengthening health education for providers is crucial. While pregnant women had good knowledge, supplement attitudes were limited. Focus on behavioral studies is recommended for conclusive insights. Recommendations include enhancing awareness through education programs, implementing reminder systems, and promoting supplement use in university women, with an active role for pharmacists in public health. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/20335 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.supervisor | Nator, Nihal | |
| dc.supervisor | Al-Tell, Maryam | |
| dc.title | AWARENESS AND COMPLIANCE TO FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AND GUIDING PHARMACISTS IN WEST BANK (QALQILYA) | |
| dc.title.alternative | الوعي والامتثال لتكميل حمض الفوليك بين النساء الحوامل وتوجيه الصيادلة في الضفة الغربية (قلقيلية) | |
| dc.type | Thesis |