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Acceptability of multiple micronutrient supplements by pregnant and lactating women in Mali

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Víctor M Aguayo ,
Diakalia Koné ,
Sory Ibrahim Bamba ,
Baba Diallo ,
Yacouba Sidibé ,
Diakalia Traoré ,
Pierre Signé  and
Shawn K Baker
Víctor M Aguayo*
Affiliation:
UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa, BP 29720, Dakar-Yoff, Senegal
Diakalia Koné
Affiliation:
Helen Keller International (HKI), Bamako, Mali
Sory Ibrahim Bamba
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali
Baba Diallo
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali
Yacouba Sidibé
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali
Diakalia Traoré
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali
Pierre Signé
Affiliation:
UNICEF, Bamako, Mali
Shawn K Baker
Affiliation:
HKI, Regional Office for Africa, Dakar, Senegal
*
*Corresponding author: Email vaguayo@unicef.org
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Abstract

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Background

In Mali, an estimated 73% of pregnant women are anaemic largely due to iron deficiency. National policy recommends women to take iron and folic acid supplements daily from first prenatal contact until 3 months postpartum. However, many pregnant women in Mali could benefit from multiple micronutrient supplements.

Objective

To assess pregnant women's acceptability of and adherence to a daily multiple micronutrient supplementation scheme compared with the current daily iron and folic acid supplementation scheme.

Design

Seventy pregnant women were allocated to either the daily multiple micronutrient or daily iron and folic acid supplementation scheme. Women started receiving supplements at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy until delivery and throughout the first 3 months postpartum.

Results

No significant differences were observed between comparison groups with respect to women's perceptions about supplement size, colour, taste or flavour. Adherence to the multiple micronutrient supplementation scheme was better (257.5±20.9 tablets; average adherence 95.4%) than that to the iron and folic acid supplementation scheme (238.5±32.7 tablets; average adherence 92.2% P = 0.008) although both were very good, as were women's perceptions about the benefits of micronutrient supplements to their health and that of their newborns.

Conclusion

Malian women adhere to prenatal/postpartum micronutrient supplementation – no matter what supplement is chosen – when access to supplements is guaranteed and when they are provided with minimum, consistent and easily understandable information and counselling, indicating that these are key elements to ensure effective programmes. These findings, together with those of the global research agenda on the efficacy of multiple micronutrient supplements for pregnant women, will inform policy development in Mali for the effective control of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnant women.

Keywords

MicronutrientsWomenMaliAfrica
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 33 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 2005

References

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