Socioeconomic and Antenatal Care Determinants of Iron Supplementation, Vitamin A Supplementation, and Dietary Diversity: Evidence from PDHS-7 Data

Maternal nutrition in pregnancy is important for maternal and child health outcomes. Poor iron and vitamin A status and the inadequate consumption of dietary diversity are widespread in low- and middle-income countries despite the use of supplementation programs worldwide. This study’s objective was to evaluate the level of maternal nutritional supplementation, dietary diversity, and their association with sociodemographic variables and the utilization of antenatal care among women. The findings showed there is a very strong relationship between maternal nutrition and socioeconomic determinants such as education and wealth, and this shows the need for an equity-based intervention to be targeted at disadvantaged women as well as enhanced nutrition counselling during all antenatal care services.