Using formative research to promote antenatal care attendance and iron folic acid supplementation in Zinder, Niger
Sonja Y Hess, Césaire T Ouédraogo, Ibrahim F Bamba, K Ryan Wessells, Nancy Keith, Thierno Faye, Banda Ndiaye, Maimouna Doudou, Jennifer Nielsen, Sonja Y Hess, Césaire T Ouédraogo, Ibrahim F Bamba, K Ryan Wessells, Nancy Keith, Thierno Faye, Banda Ndiaye, Maimouna Doudou, Jennifer Nielsen
Abstract
In Niger, use of antenatal care (ANC) and iron folic acid (IFA) supplements is suboptimal. The objectives of this paper are as follows: (a) to conduct formative research to understand barriers and beliefs among pregnant women related to ANC, IFA supplementation, and pregnancy outcomes; (b) assess the quality of currently provided ANC services; (c) use the findings to guide the development of programmatic interventions to improve coverage of ANC services and IFA supplementation of pregnant women. Structured in-home interviews (n = 72) and focus groups (n = 4) were conducted with pregnant women in 4 randomly selected villages in rural Zinder. ANC consultations (n = 33) were observed in 5 randomly selected health centres, and exit interviews were conducted with all pregnant women and seven health agents following these observations. During workshops with stakeholders, results of the formative research were interpreted, and programmatic interventions were developed. In home interviews, 72% of women reported having attended at least one ANC visit. They also reported husbands (71%), mothers (40%), and friends (33%) supporting ANC attendance. Among those having attended ANC, only 65% reported taking IFA the day prior to the interview. Three of five health centres visited had IFA in stock. Health staff did not provide IFA supplements during 18 of 33 observed ANC consultations of which only 7 cases could be explained by the lack of IFA supplements in stock. Findings were used to design a 3-pronged intervention: (a) behaviour change communication activities in communities; (b) quality improvement activities in health centres to strengthen ANC; and (c) provision of key supplies required for ANC.
Keywords: Niger; antenatal care; formative research; iron and folic acid supplementation; pregnancy; prenatal supplementation.
Conflict of interest statement
Banda Ndiaye is an employee and Maimouna Doudou was an employee of Nutrition International at the time of the project implementation. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Source: PubMed