Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the factors associated with the use of folic acid and iron preparations in the preconceptional and antenatal periods of pregnant women.

Methods: The study was carried out cross-sectionally with 410 pregnant women determined by the nonprobability sampling method in Gaziantep city in Turkiye. Research data were collected with a questionnaire.

Results: In the study, the rate of using folic acid in pregnant women was 29% in the preconceptional period, 92.9% in the antenatal period, and 28% in both periods; The rate of using iron preparation in the antenatal period was 71.5% and using folic acid and iron preparation together was 67.1%. The factors positively affecting the folic acid and iron usage rates of pregnant women were education level, working at a job, income level, being primiparous and planned pregnancy. In addition, the fact that the fetus was male and the fetus was of the desired gender were other factors that positively affected the use of folic acid and iron in the antenatal period.

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that maternal, socio-economic, and fetal gender affect the rates of starting and continuing to use folic acid and iron during pregnancy.