Don't Like Taking Iron Pills? Most Women Don't.

7/19/2019

In 2011, we began to research why pregnant women did not take their iron tablets, despite having access to them. Our literature review and qualitative/quantitative interviews with hundreds of pregnant women across India told us:

The pills taste bad. Iron pills have a distinct metallic flavor to them which women associate with nausea during pregnancy
They have numerous side effects including constipation, nausea, gastritis, etc.
It is hard to remember to take the pills on time
The concept of pills. We heard some tell us, “pregnancy is not a sickness, so why should I take a pill while I’m pregnant?”
Sometimes, important influencers in pregnant woman’s life (such as her mother, mother-in-law, or neighbor) may advise against taking tablets

According to the most recent Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS-IV), only 39% pregnant women who had access to iron tablets took them for the recommended 100 days or more.

The issue of non-compliance to iron tablets isn’t restricted only to pregnant women in rural areas. Just 49% women in urban areas stick to their iron tablets routine during their pregnancy. Also, the more pregnancies a woman has had, the less likely she is to take iron tablets.

To address this issue of non-compliance and fulfil critical iron needs during pregnancy, Violet Health researched, formulated, and clinically tested MamaBix. MamaBix contains crucial nutrients including iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and protein. Learn more about these special iron-folic acid biscuits here!

Related reads:
Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron
5 top protein rich foods in pregnancy