Ferrous sulfate and folic acid use in pregnant people
What it found
In 428 pregnant people in Criciúma, Brazil, 97.4% received ferrous sulfate and 93.7% received folic acid during pregnancy.
Use was higher in older people and those with more prenatal visits.
What they found
Studies in people
How many got supplements
Of the 428 pregnant people, 97.4% received ferrous sulfate and 93.7% received folic acid at some point during pregnancy.
Ferrous sulfate and age
Ferrous sulfate use rose with age, reaching 100% among those aged 30 or older. Those aged 30 or older had 6% higher use than those aged 18 to 19.
Ferrous sulfate and alcohol
People who drank alcohol during pregnancy had 4% higher ferrous sulfate use than those who did not.
Folic acid and visits
People with six or more prenatal visits had 10% higher folic acid use than those with fewer than six visits. Use was 95.6% versus 86.2%.
Smoking and supplements
Smokers had lower use of both supplements: 89.5% for ferrous sulfate versus 97.8% in non-smokers, and 78.9% for folic acid versus 94.4% in non-smokers.
What the authors conclude
“The results indicate high iron and folic acid supplementation among pregnant people in Primary Health Care.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the results show high ferrous sulfate and folic acid supplementation among pregnant people in primary care, suggesting the National Iron Supplementation Program is working.
- They advise that identifying factors linked to supplementation, such as age, alcohol use and number of prenatal visits, can guide more targeted strategies by health management.
- They state that continuous monitoring and improvement of the supplementation programme are essential so all pregnant people have adequate access to these nutrients.
How it was done
Iron and folic acid needs rise in pregnancy and can be hard to meet through diet alone. The authors wanted to check how many pregnant people in local primary care actually received these supplements and what factors were linked to their use.
They interviewed 428 pregnant people aged 18 or over in their third trimester who were getting prenatal care at 48 health centres in Criciúma, Brazil, between April and December 2022. Supplement use was read from each person's prenatal booklet.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a cross-sectional study, so it can show links but not cause and effect.
- The prenatal booklet records only whether supplements were prescribed, not how much was taken or how regularly.
- The findings come from one city in Brazil and may not apply to other places.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Conflicts of interest: None to declare.
The paper
- Title
- Ferrous Sulfate and Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant People in Primary Health Care: a Cross-Sectional Study, Criciúma, 2022
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Campos-Rosa J, Puchivailo RAC, Schäfer AA, Meller FO, Miranda VIA (2026). Ferrous Sulfate and Folic Acid Supplementation in Pregnant People in Primary Health Care: a Cross-Sectional Study, Criciúma, 2022. Epidemiologia e servicos de saude. doi:10.1590/S2237-96222026v35e20240377.enFree full textPubMed 42718097DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error