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Iron folic acid distribution and consumption through antenatal care: identifying barriers across countries

The objective of this study was to identify where, within antenatal care (ANC) programmes, pregnant women falter in obtaining and consuming an ideal minimum of 180 iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets. Data from Demographic and Health Surveys were used to develop a schematic that identified four sequential ‘falter points’ to consuming 180 IFA tablets: ANC attendance, IFA receipt or purchase, IFA consumption and the number of tablets consumed. The analysis identified where ANC-based distribution of IFA falters in each of the 22 countries examined.

Cambridge University Press Sununtnasuk et al. May 2015
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