Scaling Up Vitamin A Supplementation Programs

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs are an inexpensive strategy in reducing vitamin A deficiency and childhood mortality, yet the progress of these programs is slow leaving more children at risk. The Global Health & Innovation Lab aims to complete the preliminary step of intervention mapping for VAS in collaboration with partners to support the scale of VAS within their local contexts. In addition, researchers at the Global Health & Innovation Lab are conducting a systematic review to identify barriers and facilitators of VAS in Africa, and suggest effective strategies to overcome the challenges and increase the effective implementation of VAS programs.

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Overview

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs are an inexpensive strategy in reducing vitamin A deficiency and childhood mortality, yet the progress of these programs is slow leaving more children at risk. The Global Health & Innovation Lab aims to complete the preliminary step of intervention mapping for VAS in collaboration with partners to support the scale of VAS within their local contexts. In addition, researchers at the Global Health & Innovation Lab are conducting a systematic review to identify barriers and facilitators of VAS in Africa, and suggest effective strategies to overcome the challenges and increase the effective implementation of VAS programs.

Importance

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted VAS programs in Africa; however, the decline in VAS coverage occurred even before the pandemic. Thus, there is a need for investigations focused on supporting VAS coverage, especially in regions with a significant burden. Vitamin A deficiency is considered one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies across the globe, and in 2020, it was reported that only 41% of targeted children received VAS, with West and Central Africa reporting the lowest coverage (29%) according to a 2021 UNICEF report.

Research Questions

  1. Based on the perspectives of stakeholders from Nigeria, what are the barriers and facilitators of Vitamin A Supplementation programs?
  2. Based on the perspectives of stakeholders from Nigeria, what are potential solutions that can support the sustainability of vitamin A supplementation programs?
  3. Systematic review: What are the key barriers and facilitators of implementation of vitamin A supplementation programs for children 6-59 months in Africa?

Implications

The goal of this project is to provide insight on the implementation and scale-up of VAS programs in Low- and middle-income countries. Through this project, the Global Health & Innovation Lab believes that they can strengthen implementation and sustainability of VAS programs and are hoping that these lessons can expand to address the implementation of supplementation programs targeting other micronutrient deficiencies.

Related publications/protocols

Team

  • Funders: Western Faculty Research Development Fund
  • Research Trainees: Selina Quibrantar, Asua Okolie, Sophie Paquet
  • Research Partners: Dr. O. Ariyo, University of Ibadan and Chiamaka Uche-Madu, University of Ibadan
  • Librarian: Alanna Marson