Co-implementing Vitamin A supplementation with Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in Sokoto State, Nigeria: a pilot implementation study

Background

Bi-annual high dose vitamin A supplements administered to children aged 6-59 months can significantly reduce child mortality, but vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage is low in Nigeria. The World HealthOrganization recommends that VAS be integrated into other public health programmes which are aimedat improving child survival. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) provides a ready platform for VAS integration to improve health outcomes.

Methods

A mixed methods study design was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of co-implementing VAS with SMC in one local government area of Sokoto state in northern Nigeria. Existing SMC implementation tools and job aids were revised and community drug distributors, experienced in SMC delivery, were trained on the determination of VAS eligibility, administration of the correct doses and identification of adverse drug reactions. SMC and VAS were delivered using a door-to-door approach. VAS and SMC coverage were calculated and the outcome of the integration was assessed using questionnaires administered to 188 and 197 households at baseline and endline respectively. The Bowen framework was used to assess feasibility through focus group discussions and key informant interviews; thematic analysis was carried out on the qualitative data.

Results

At endline, the proportion of children who received at least one dose of VAS in the last six months increased significantly from 2–59% (p<0.001). There were no adverse effects on the coverage of SMC delivery with 70% eligible children reached at baseline, increasing to 76% (p=0.412) at endline. There was no significant change (p=0.264) in the quality of SMC, measured by proportion of children receiving their first dose as directly observed treatment (DOT), at endline (68%) compared to baseline (54%). Study findings demonstrated acceptability among caregivers, community drug distributors, State and National healthcare officials.

Conclusion

This study showed that it is feasible and acceptable to integrate VAS with SMC delivery in areas of high seasonal malaria transmission such as northern Nigeria, where SMC campaigns are implemented. SMCVAS integrated campaign can significantly increase vitamin A coverage but more research is required to demonstrate the feasibility of this integration in different settings and on a larger scale.

The study used mixed methods, with baseline and endline comparisons of VAS and SMC coverage along with focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs).

Research Brief

Drug-based Strategies
Social Science

Apr 2019 — Feb 2020

$120,000

Nigeria

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC)
Tracking progress against the PMI Insights Research Priorities