Evaluation of non-compliance in iron prophylaxis use by parents of babies aged 4-12 months who applied to Primary Family Health Centers in Van province

Introduction and purpose: Iron deficiency and anemia (IDA) is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide and can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly in children aged 6–24 months. In Turkey, free iron prophylaxis is provided to infants as part of a program run by the Ministry of Health; however, parental knowledge, attitude, and compliance issues reduce the effectiveness of iron prophylaxis. This(our) study was conducted to assess the knowledge, awareness, attitude, and compliance of parents presenting to Primary Care Family Health Centers in Van province regarding iron prophylaxis. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted between February 5, 2025, and April 5, 2025. 195 parents of babies aged 4 to 12 months participated in the study. A 16-question survey, prepared using literature, was administered face-to-face. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests in SPSS 27. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was accepted. Findings: 82.56% of participants received a doctor's recommendation, and 74.87% used iron supplements for their babies. The most common reasons for discontinuing or not starting iron prophylaxis were medication-related side effects (31.9%) and "not wanting to use medication" (24.6%). 53.42% of participants reported experiencing side effects; the most common were stool discoloration (33.3%) and constipation (28.3%). Parents who perceived their income as low had a significantly lower rate of iron prophylaxis use (p<0.05). Furthermore, parents who knew that the medication was available free of charge from family health centers (FHCs) had a higher rate of iron supplement use (p<0.001). Similarly, mothers who were recommended iron prophylaxis by their doctors were significantly more likely to use iron supplements for their babies (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although the majority of parents administer iron prophylaxis to their children, a significant portion are non-compliant. Side effects, reluctance to administer any medication to their child, financial difficulties, and lack of knowledge are the primary reasons for non-compliance. Therefore, increased parental information, support for side effect management, and regular monitoring of the prophylaxis process are essential. These approaches will significantly contribute to the prevention of IDA in infants. Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, infant, parent, iron prophylaxis, compliance.