Improving antenatal iron-containing supplementation indicators: a report on key informant interviews, an online survey and DHS data analyses

Overview

Antenatal iron supplementation coverage is a core process indicator of the Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework (GNMF). WHO-UNICEF’s Technical Expert Advisory group for nutrition Monitoring (TEAM) is leading efforts to propose a global standard indicator on antenatal iron supplementation coverage. A scoping exercise was carried out in 2017-2018 to assess the feasibility of reporting using the currently defined antenatal iron supplementation coverage indicator (Developing and validating an iron and folic acid supplementation indicator for tracking progress towards global nutrition monitoring framework targets). The report concluded that currently available data sources are not sufficient to allow complete reporting with this indicator and recommended an interim indicator “any antenatal iron supplementation” that was included in the operational guidance for the Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework (GNMF) indicator.

The current report builds on the efforts and advances towards a new globally accepted indicator on antenatal iron supplementation coverage. It aims to harmonize data collection and reporting by reviewing the use of current antenatal supplementation indicators and to determine whether analyses of available data could provide a better evidence base for the development and validation of a global antenatal iron supplement indicator.

 Findings indicate that global public health nutrition practitioners are aware of the limitations of antenatal iron consumption questions and the recall period. They indicated a reduced recall period (two rather than five years) and integrating complementary questions and indicators. Future research should seek to quantify more precisely the quality of iron supplement consumption recall data relative to actual iron supplement distribution and consumption.