Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing www.iiste.org ISSN 2422-8419 An International Peer-reviewed Journal Vol.48, 2018 25 Drug Use Evaluation of Iron with Folic Acid During Pregnancy at Alem Ketema Enat Hospital, North shoa, Amhara, Ethiopia * Gizew Dessie 1, 2 Yibeltal Aniley 3 1.Department of Human Resource for Health management (MPH), institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia 2.Department of Pharmacy (B.pharm), Alem ketema Enat Hospital, Alem Ketema, Ethiopia 3.Department of Pharmacy (B.pharm in Clinical Pharmacy), Alem ketema Enat Hospital, Alem Ketema, Ethiopia Abstract Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) is the ongoing, systematic and criteria-based program of medicine evaluations that will ensure appropriate medicines use. Correct dosage of Iron with Folic Acid (IFA) is recommended by WHO to prevent Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Even if it affects populations, pregnant mothers are prone to develop anemia. Iron deficiency anemia contributes for 95% of anemia during pregnancy reflecting the need for iron to pregnant women. Foliate supplementation is encouraged before conception but still has significant protective effect for birth weight. In addition to the mother, anemia has a significant impact to the fetus. Anemia has contributed 20% of maternal deaths in Africa. The national guideline of Ethiopia recommends a minimum of 6 months supply of IFA during pregnancy. A cross-sectional criteria based study design was conducted on 348 Antenatal care (ANC) attendants retrospectively from October to June 2016 to evaluate the extent of correct dosage of IFA at Alem Ketema Enat hospital. This data was analyzed using MS excel 2010 and the result shows only 19 % of ANC attendants took the correct IFA dosage as recommended by WHO and the national protocol. Therefore the hospital should design quality improvement project on the correct supplementation of IFA to pregnant women. Keywords: Drug use evaluation, Iron with Folic Acid, Pregnancy, WHO Drug Use Evaluation Criteria, North Shoa, Ethiopia 1. INTRODUCTION The Drug and Therapeutics Committee(DTC) is responsible for numerous important drug management functions. The DTC evaluates new drugs for the formulary, develops policies for drug use, and identifies and corrects drug use problems. Drug use problems in health institution can be identified using drug use evaluation criteria set by WHO [1,2]. Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) is the Ongoing, systematic and criteria-based program of medicine evaluations that will ensure appropriate medicine use. Interventions are necessary when inappropriate therapy is identified. A DUE will Define appropriate medicine use (by establishing criteria) ,Audit criteria against what is being prescribed, Give feedback to prescribers on all identified problems and Monitor to see if criteria are followed and prescribing is improved. DUE can be either disease or therapy based investigation[3,4]. Indicators Suggesting Need for DUE are Overuse or underuse of medications, Problems indicated from WHO/MSH indicator studies , High number of adverse drug reactions, Signs of treatment failures, Excessive number of non-formulary medications used, Use of high-cost medicines where less expensive alternatives exist and Excessive number of medicines within a therapeutic category [5-7]. 1.1 Statement of the problem Anemia is likely cause for women and new born morbidity and mortality and has impact on the growth of children, and on work effectiveness in adults [8]. Even if it affects all populations, mothers are highly affected by anemia [9,10]. Iron deficiency anemia is the leading cause of anemia in pregnancy and is responsible for 95% of anemia during pregnancy reflecting the need for iron in pregnant woman [11]. In pregnancy, anemia has a significant impact on the health of the fetus as well as that of the mother. 20% of maternal deaths in Africa have been attributed to anemia [12]. IFA deficiency anemia contributes adverse effects on the woman and new born health. Daily oral IFA provision is advised during antenatal care to lower the likelihood of low birth weight, maternal anemia [13]. Preterm labour, low weight gain, premature rupture of membrane, placenta previa, cardiac arrest, lowered resistance to infection, hemorrhage, poor cognitive development and reduced work capacity are among the maternal risks. On the same way, low birth weight, prematurity, fetal distress which contribute to prenatal morbidity and mortality are among fetal and neonatal risks [14]. In the United States, about 4000 pregnancies are affected by neural tube defects annually; among 50% of these defects could be prevented with daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid throughout the peri conception period [15]. The prevalence of Folic acid supplementation intake in peri connectional period in Qatar,