Evaluation of the implementation of the nutritional supplementation programmes for pregnant women within the Cape Town Metropolitan Area

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction:The primary objective was to determine whether pregnant women visiting primaryhealth care clinics (PHCs) were aware of the nutritional supplementationprogrammes: Nutrition Supplementation Programme (NSP) food, folate-, iron- andvitamin A supplementation. The secondary objective was to determine whetherpregnant women qualified for the NSP food-, folate- and iron supplementation. Thethird objective was to determine whether those who qualified received theprescribed NSP food-, folate-, and iron supplementation and whether they werecompliant with these interventions.Design:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at all PHCs hosting basicantenatal clinics in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area of the Western CapeProvince, South Africa.Method:One hundred and fourteen pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria wereincluded in the study using a non-random quota sampling strategy. Pregnantwomen were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. The mid upper armcircumference (MUAC) was measured and the symphysis-fundus (SF)measurement was obtained from the medical files to determine whetherparticipants met the entry criteria for the NSP. Written informed consent wasobtained from participants.Results:Fifty per cent of participants were between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation. Most ofthem (68%) had an MUAC of between 24,7 cm and 34,4 cm. Fifty (44%) of theparticipants had a sufficient SF measurement. Twenty-one (18%) of theparticipants indicated that they were aware of the vitamin A Programme, 56 (49%)were aware of the NSP food-supplementation and 79 (70%) knew about the folicandiron supplementation that pregnant women should receive from the clinic. Six(5%) participants qualified for the NSP with an MUAC of below 23 cm. Only one(17%) participant was registered with the NSP and received the food-supplementation. Seventy (61%) of the participants indicated that they receivedand used the iron- and folic supplements, of which 30 (43%) did not know whythey needed to take these supplements.Conclusion:Folate- and iron supplementation appears to be reasonably successfullyimplemented in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area among pregnant women visitingPHCs. The NSP food-supplementation, however, appears to be unsuccessfullyimplemented and needs further attention. Resources could be appointed to informpregnant women about the reasons for and importance of taking thesesupplements.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University