Barriers to uptake of treatment for geophagic women of reproductive age in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province: a qualitative study using the Health Belief Model

Abstract

Geophagic practise amongst women of reproductive age remains a major public health concern that is associated with perinatal and postpartum mortalities and morbidities that requires critical interventions to mitigate the practise. Despite the available interventions such as administration of oral iron and folic acid supplementation and intravenous iron therapy, geophagic women of reproductive age do not adhere to the prescribed treatment. Geophagic practise is mostly common and prevalent amongst women of reproductive age worldwide, irrespective of their socio-economic status, ethnicity, age, and social status. An exploratory qualitative research method was used to conduct the study to explore the perceived barriers to accessing treatment for geophagy among women of reproductive age in Tshwane District, Gauteng Province, using the Health Belief Model as a theoretical framework. The study was conducted in the antenatal care and family planning units in the public healthcare facilities of Tshwane District, Gauteng Province. The findings indicate that absence of geophagy health education and screening of iron deficiency in the antenatal care units, as part of the antenatal care. addiction, dependency syndrome, influence from peers, fear of judgement and shame to disclose to healthcare providers about their geophagic practise status, lack of awareness regarding the benefits of taking oral and intravenous iron therapies were stressed as the main barriers influencing the uptake of treatment for geophagy amongst women of reproductive age. The implementation of iron and folic acid supplementation and intravenous iron therapy for geophagic women of reproductive age is not adequately yielding positive results if this initiative is not coupled with geophagy health education particularly in the antenatal care units to enhance treatment uptake and adherence.