"There is Iron and Iron⋮" Burkinabe Women's Perceptions of Iron Supplementation: A Qualitative Study

Compaore, A, Gies, S, Brabin, B, Tinto, H and Brabin, L (2014) "There is Iron and Iron⋮" Burkinabe Women's Perceptions of Iron Supplementation: A Qualitative Study MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL, 18 (8). pp. 1976-1984. ISSN 1092-7875, 1573-6628

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Abstract

Most pregnant women in Burkina Faso are iron deficient and many are anemic. This study assessed women's understanding of anemia and the role of iron in preventing and treating this condition. A qualitative study was conducted within a randomized controlled trial of weekly iron supplementation in a rural malaria endemic area. Focus groups with women of similar age, parity, and marital status took place in 12 of 24 study villages. Two additional focus groups were conducted with female field workers. Tape-recorded transcripts were translated into French and analyzed using Framework analysis. Anemia, for which no Mooré term or traditional treatment for anemia was evident, was described in terms of blood volume. Moderate blood loss (diminished blood) could be easily replaced by eating well and was not considered serious. Massive blood loss (finished blood) was a rare, life-threatening illness. Iron tablets could increase blood volume and help women withstand massive blood loss at delivery, but for the latter, transfusion was indicated. Women had no knowledge of iron's role and did not readily concede that iron supplements contained elemental iron. Neither adolescents nor field workers were convinced of the benefits of supplementing non-pregnant adolescents, who were incorrectly considered to be at low risk of anemia. Young women's knowledge of anemia did not provide an adequate explanatory framework to motivate anemia prevention. Improving information on the role of iron is especially important for adolescent girls who may be incorrectly considered at low risk of anemia as they have not yet experienced pregnancy.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Adolescents, Perceptions, Burkina Faso, Anemia, Malaria, Iron, Iron supplementation
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2026 08:12
Last Modified:	22 May 2026 19:29
DOI:	10.1007/s10995-014-1443-x
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3197240
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