Iron deficiency anemia is still a common public health concern in several regions of Vietnam. The prevalence is high in pregnant women and one of effective interventions is iron supplementation. This study aims to investigate knowledge and practices on nutrition and anemia prevention of pregnant women from Muong minority group, as well as relevant factors affecting iron supplementation scheme, from which to develop an effective intervention program for this target group. It was a cross-sectional survey done in 238 pregnant women in 6 communes of Hoa Binh. Methods: questionnaires to assess knowledge-practice-coverage (KPC) and Trial for Improved Practice (TIP) (interviewing pregnant women after they were supplemented with iron tables for 3 weeks). The results showed that: pregnant women in Hoa Binh had relatively good knowledge on good conditions for good pregnancy outcomes but they did not practice optimally. They had basic knowledge on anemia control (at-risk groups, signs, affects, how to prevent), on the benefits of iron supplementation but only 62.2 percent took iron and 72.3 percent of them took it daily. Factors influencing the compliance to iron supplementation scheme include un-interrupted supply (97 percent), easy-to-take tablets (40 percent), affordable price (60 percent), perceived benefits (47 percent), and less side effects (24 percent). The intervention program should include communication activities with nutrition messages appropriate to specific stages of behavior change and address all factors influencing iron supplementation, such as supply, type of supplements and price.
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