Why do adult women in Vietnam take iron tablets?

BMC Public Health

Table 3 Comparison of risk factors that affect duration of taking iron tablets¹ (%)

	Shorter Duration (n = 73)	Longer Duration (n = 79)	P (χ² analysis)
Knowledge on anemia
Lack of iron rich foods is cause of anemia	60.3	43.0	0.036
Meat is one of the iron rich foods	53.5	46.5	0.043
Beans is one of the iron rich foods	61.3	34.2	0.001
Increased requirement is cause of anemia	37.0	25.3	0.160
Taking iron tablet is to prevent anemia	71.2	75.9	0.582
Taking de-worming tablets is to prevent anemia	1.4	0.0	0.480
Difficulty pregnancy is consequence of anemia	28.8	20.3	0.259
Small baby is consequence of anemia	57.5	48.1	0.263
Unhealthy child/mother is consequence of anemia	63.0	68.4	0.499
Advice on side-effects being told	34.2	29.1	0.601
Information source of anemia
Commune health worker	64.4	77.2	0.107
Women's union	31.5	32.9	0.864
Village health worker	27.4	32.9	0.485
Radio/TV	4.1	15.2	0.029
Health seeking behaviors
Western medicine preferred	75.8⁵	62.2	0.251
Frequent check ups during pregnancy (>3 times)	86.3	92.4	0.292
Dizziness stopped is a reason for taking iron tablets	51.4	49.4	0.871
Health new born is a reason for taking iron tablets	48.6⁷	63.3	0.074
Environmental risk factors
Hygiene latrines use	57.5	43.0	0.104
Experiences of side effects	46.6	24.4⁷	0.006
Iron tablets supplied before pregnancy	54.8	72.2	0.029

Note: Seven respondents had missing data, five for not taking iron tablets and two for not responding to questions on duration of taking iron tablets.
Shorter duration means the participants took iron tablets for 1–4 months during last pregnancy.
Longer duration means the participants took iron tablets for 5–9 months during last pregnancy.
Hygiene latrines have two rooms, a latrine and a latrine with water.

ISSN: 1471-2458