Matseliso Elizabeth Yakoi
King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care
Context: The study was carried out in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
(BCMM), Eastern Cape; one of the nine Provinces in South Africa.
Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine factors influencing folic acid/
ferrous sulphate nutritional intake among pregnant teenagers in BCMM.
Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study using a
sample of 300 purposively selected pregnant teenagers aged between 13-19
years, attending antennal clinic in BCMM. A questionnaire was used for data
collection.
Results: The results indicated that most (97.0%) participants obtained their
supplements from the government clinic; took other medications (87.2%);
regularly used nutritional supplements, (71.7%); agreed that folic acid and
ferrous sulphate were important for pregnancy outcomes (96%); should be taken
before pregnancy and after birth (68.2%) and nurses had explained the possible
pregnancy complications, (71.7%). About 84.1% agreed that the medication
containers were clearly labeled; and nurses had explained the side effects of folic
acid/ferrous folate (60.7%) and the likely action in case of side effects occurred
(56%). The majority of the participants also agreed that folic acid and ferrous
sulphate are good (88%) and harmless to the unborn baby (75.3%). The majority
(49.2%) did not consume dark leafy vegetables, cabbage (35.0%), liver (47.1%),
beef/lamb (42.0%), fish (43.3%) and beans/legumes (36.4%). Nausea, vomiting,
stomach pains, forgetting to take the supplements due to busy schedules, nonavailability
of the supplements in the in health facilities were the major reasons
influencing the intake of folic acid and ferrous sulphate. Also, there was low
consumption of iron and folate rich foods by pregnant teenagers.
Conclusion: Some pregnant teenagers did not take the supplements as
recommended, while others had a diet poor in folic acid and ferrous sulphate.
It is recommended that midwives and other stakeholders should emphasize the
importance of taking nutritional supplements and consuming diet that rich in
folic acid and ferrous sulphate during pregnancy.
Matseliso Elizabeth Yako is a Nursing Professor; she has teaching, research experience at Nursing University, supervision and administrative experience in the field of Nursing Education. She is working in King Saud Bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), King Abdulaziz Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She has so many publications in nursing field
E-mail: yakoelizabeth@gmail.com
Journal of Nursing & Care received 4230 citations as per Google Scholar report