Exploring factors that influence uptake of ferrous sulphate among pregnant women attending antenatal care services at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Malawi
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Date
2021-12-16
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
The type of research study
This will be a qualitative study which will use phenomenological approach involving in-depth
interviews with the health workers and pregnant women attending antenatal care services at
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
The problem to be studied
Poor adherence to ferrous sulphate supplementation among pregnant women which contributes
to iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy and eventually leads to maternal and neonatal
deaths.
The objectives
Broad objective:
ī To explore factors that influence uptake of ferrous sulphate supplementation in
Antenatal women at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
Specific objectives:
1. To identify the individual and community factors that influence uptake of ferrous
sulphate uptake among pregnant women.
2. To explore the health system factors that affect uptake of ferrous sulphate uptake among
pregnant women.
Methodology
Study design: It will be a qualitative study which will use a phenomenological design
involving in-depth interviews with the pregnant women and health workers.
Study Setting: The study will be done in Blantyre southern part of Malawi. Blantyre is an
urban District with an estimated population of 661,256 with 325,022 females. The participants
will be recruited from the Antenatal Clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
Study population: All health workers and pregnant women attending Antenatal care services
at Queen Elizabeth central hospital in their second and third trimester since ferrous sulphate is
given in these trimesters.
All women who are in first trimester and health workers not working at antenatal care clinic
will not be included.
Sample size: In-depth interviews with pregnant women. Phenomenological studies
recommend 5-25 participants [6]. This study will comprise of 20 participants (15 pregnant
women and 5 nurses). but ultimately the number of participants will depend on when saturation
is reached. Data collection process: An authorization letter from QECH will be obtained, followed by
sensitization of antenatal clinic staff and potential participants on the study in order to gain
consent. Thereafter, participants will be recruited into the study.
Data management and analysis: Analysis will be thematic in which data collection and
analysis will be done concurrently to determine if saturation has been reached. For the
protection of participants, all names will be masked during consenting to avoid inclusion of
identifiable information in the analysis files. Data collected will be organized into digital files
and create a file naming system to ensure materials can be easily located in large databases of
text for analysis.
Expected findings and their dissemination: The study is expected to find out about
facilitators and barriers to ferrous sulphate uptake among pregnant women which will inform
policy makers to enhance uptake. The report is going to be submitted to Kamuzu University of
Health Sciences Library (formerly College of Medicine), The University Research and
Publication Committee (URPC) (through the KUHES Secretariat) and QECH Research
committee.
The research findings will be disseminated through holding dissemination seminar/workshop
and publication of a manuscript.
Description
The type of research study
This will be a qualitative study which will use phenomenological approach involving in-depth
interviews with the health workers and pregnant women attending antenatal care services at
Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi