Piloting Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation Within the Routine Antenatal Care System in Ethiopia: Insights From...

Area of Science:

• Maternal and child health
• Public health nutrition
• Micronutrient supplementation

Background:

• Addressing maternal and child nutrition is critical in low and middle-income countries.
• Prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) can reduce low birthweight and preterm births.
• Ethiopia is transitioning from iron-folate to MMS in antenatal care, following WHO guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholders' early perceptions and experiences of the MMS pilot transition in Ethiopia.
• To inform future policy and scale-up decisions for the MMS program.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design utilizing interviews and document reviews.
• Thematic analysis of data using NVivo 12 software.
• Exploration of stakeholder perspectives in five Ethiopian regions.

Main Results:

• Identified challenges including supply chain issues and funding constraints.
• Highlighted proposed strategies: enhanced coordination, community engagement for demand creation, and capacity building.
• Emphasized the need for improved monitoring and evaluation frameworks with supportive supervision.

Conclusions:

• Supply chain strengthening is crucial for MMS program success.
• Community engagement and healthcare worker capacity building are vital.
• Effective coordination and robust M&E are essential for accountability and program success.