Evaluation of the Anaemia in Pregnancy Program in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality

Abstract

Anaemia in pregnancy has a serious implication on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5. In 2004, the Ghana Health Service launched the Integrated Strategy for Control of Anaemia in Ghana to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti Region The study which was a cross-sectional study reviewed data from ANC registers in 2 hospitals, 1 health centre and 1 clinic on the records of 400 systematically selected pregnant women before the program in 2003 and another 400 in 2007 using a data extraction form. An observation was made on counselling sessions at ANC clinics and an in-dept interview conducted on midwives and a member of the health management team. Among the 400 pregnant women sampled from the ANC register, prevalence of anemia (Hb <11g/dl) at registration was 61.2% 2003 compared to 54% (p<0.001) in 2007. At 36 weeks 58.8% was anaemic in 2003 compared to 48.5 %( p<0.001) in 2007. There was a 7% and 10.3% reduction in anaemia among pregnant women at registration and 36weeks respectively between 2003 and 2007 compared to 25% target set for the program. 14.3% of ANC attendants had 5 visits or more in 2003 compared 15% in 2007 and 77.5%, 32.5% and 13.5% of pregnant women received the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd doses of IPT respectively compared to the 80% target set for the program. 75% of ANC attendants received counseling on anaemia control compared to the 80% target set for the program but on the average, only 16.3% of the key messages were given to each pregnant woman. Drugs were in regular stock but there was no in-service training and supervision since the program started. The program was not very effective in the municipality since it achieved only 41.2% of the target set for the outcome indicator (reduction in anaemia rate) and could not achieve the targets set for the process indicators.