Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of folate deficiency and contributing factors among pregnant women

Design: A community-based cross-sectional study

Setting: Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia

Participants: Four hundred sixty-one pregnant women participated in the study.

Primary outcome: The prevalence of folate deficiency and risk factors of folate deficiency

Results: Overall, the prevalence of folate deficiency was 49.33% [95%CI (44.59%-54.07%). Pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia were 2.94 times more likely to develop folate deficiency [AOR=2.94; 95% CI (1.85-4.68)] than non-anemic women. Respondents with good knowledge of folate-rich foods (AOR=0.31; 95% CI=0.14-0.71) and those who took iron and folic acid supplementation (AOR=0.56; 95% CI= 0.36-0.89) during their current pregnancy were less likely to develop folate deficiency.

Conclusion: In this study, a considerable proportion of pregnant women had folate deficiency during the current pregnancy. Therefore, it is critical that nutritional treatment, education and counseling be strengthened to facilitate iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

Key Words: Folate deficiency, pregnant women, Haramaya district, Ethiopia