What is Ferrous sulphate and Folic Acid?

According to Journal of nutrition of Z. Kalipa, D.t. Goo et al., Folic acid and ferrous sulphate
are nutritional supplements that are given to women planning to conceive, during pregnancy
and aft er delivery, in order to prevent Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) (hydrocephalus, spinal
bifida and anencephaly) in new born babies 1 , 2 . Folic acid and ferrous sulphate do not only
reduce the risk of NTDs 3 , but also reduce anaemia in mothers, In their study it states that
prevalence of anemia was reported among pregnant women in south Africa . Iron deficiency
is the main cause of anaemia worldwide 8  and it has been postulated that iron interventions
could prevent about (20-50%) prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women

Iron supplements have been recommended by the WHO to supplement the most widely
applied micronutrient in a country, with significant success 11 . Routine maternal nutrient
supplementation in low-and middle-income countries is generally restricted to provision of
iron-folate supplements

When should ferrous sulphate and folic acid be taken?

As stated by Gautam C.PhD , Professor and Head ., Lekha Saha, MD,DM,MAMS , Assistant
professor .et al (2008) , They stated that Pregnant women should receive 1 adult tablet per
day for 100 days. Each tablet contains 100 mg of elemental iron and 500 mcg of folic acid.
These tablets should be provided to women aft er the first trimester of pregnancy.

According to Centers of disease control and prevention women should consume 4,000 mcg of
folic acid each day beginning 1 month before becoming pregnant and through the first 3
months of pregnancy. Women who have had an NTD-affected pregnancy should consume 400
mcg of folic acid each day, even when not planning to become pregnant.

.
Note: The standard taking of medication was not followed accordingly to doctor’s order
because the client was not adhering to drugs/ medications resulting to the change of time on
medication
What will happen to the mother / client who is not adhering to drugs?
According to Sendeku, F.W., Azeze, G.G. & Fenta, S.L. Adherence to iron-folic acid
supplementation among pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth
Non-adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation during pregnancy has a potential negative
impact on the health of the mother and the fetus. Increased adherence to iron-folic acid
supplementation during pregnancy was associated with reduced risk of anemia for the mother
and hemorrhagic newborn disease and congenital anomalies for the fetus
Iron deficiency anemia is the commonest hematological disorder in pregnant women and
children worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries

Low intake of iron-folic acid during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of
adverse birth outcomes such as; neural tube defects, cardiac defect, and endocrine disorders.
Iron-folic acid supplementation is currently the aforementioned and recommended strategies
to prevent adverse birth outcomes and hematologic complications during pregnancy

References:
Sendeku, F.W., Azeze, G.G. & Fenta, S.L. Adherence to iron-folic acid supplementation among
pregnant women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy
Childbirth 20, 138 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-2835-0 retrieved from
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-020-2835-
0#citeas

Kalipa Z. Goon D.T. and Okeyo A. (nd). Factors Influencing Adherence to Folic Acid and Ferrous
Sulphate Nutritional Intake among Pregnant Teenagers in Buffalo City Municipality, South
Africa; retrieved from https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=pjn.2017.531.537
Chander Shekhar Gautam, PhD, Professor and Head, Lekha Saha, MD, DM, MAMS, Assistant
Professor, Kavita Sekhri, MD, Demonstrator, and Pradip Kumar Saha, MD, MAMS, Assistant
Professor. (2008) Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy and the Rationality of Iron Supplements
Prescribed During Pregnancy; 10(12): 283. Published online 2008 Dec 16. PMCID:
PMC2644004PMID: 19242589. Retrieved form
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644004/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Use of folic acid for prevention of spina bifida
and other neural tube defects–1983–1991. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1991;40(30):513–
516. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/recommendations.html#:~:text=The%20current
%20recommendations%20are%20that,not%20planning%20to%20become%20pregnant.