Perceptions and experiences of intravenous iron treatment for anaemia in pregnancy in Malawi: a formative qualitative study.
Anaemia in pregnancy
Malawi
intravenous iron infusion
maternal and child health
Journal
Gates open research
ISSN: 2572-4754
Titre abrégé: Gates Open Res
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101717821
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
accepted:
09
03
2024
pubmed:
8
11
2022
medline:
11
3
2024
entrez:
8
3
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The study objective was to explore opinions, identify experiences, and describe perspectives on the acceptability of intravenous (IV) iron to treat anaemia in pregnancy and identify potential barriers and facilitators of introducing IV iron in the Malawian healthcare system. We conducted 15 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with pregnant women, and seven in-depth interviews with health workers at a community-based health centre in Blantyre and a tertiary hospital in Zomba. Most women who used IV iron treatment during the second trimester of pregnancy reported feeling better and stronger after receiving the intervention. Women perceived that IV iron treatment worked faster than oral iron tablets and increased their haemoglobin count. However, cultural beliefs that IV iron treatment will cause miscarriage and the perception that study procedures involved Satanism and vampirism practices were barriers to acceptability. Health workers found IV iron treatment easy to administer because it is a single-dose treatment, simultaneously reducing the burden for pregnant women taking daily oral iron tablets. However, health workers expressed concerns about the costs and the need to train health workers before the large-scale implementation and integration of IV iron treatment into Malawi's routine care. Despite the perceived concerns and challenges experienced in participating in the first IV iron infusion trial in Malawi, participants' reflections suggest that IV iron infusion is acceptable for treating iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy. Participant advocate groups can offer a peer-to-peer education approach to sensitize and engage community members on the benefits of treatment and dispel concerns when the country contemplates integrating IV iron infusion for treating anaemia in pregnancy in Malawi.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
The study objective was to explore opinions, identify experiences, and describe perspectives on the acceptability of intravenous (IV) iron to treat anaemia in pregnancy and identify potential barriers and facilitators of introducing IV iron in the Malawian healthcare system.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
We conducted 15 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with pregnant women, and seven in-depth interviews with health workers at a community-based health centre in Blantyre and a tertiary hospital in Zomba.
Results
UNASSIGNED
Most women who used IV iron treatment during the second trimester of pregnancy reported feeling better and stronger after receiving the intervention. Women perceived that IV iron treatment worked faster than oral iron tablets and increased their haemoglobin count. However, cultural beliefs that IV iron treatment will cause miscarriage and the perception that study procedures involved Satanism and vampirism practices were barriers to acceptability. Health workers found IV iron treatment easy to administer because it is a single-dose treatment, simultaneously reducing the burden for pregnant women taking daily oral iron tablets. However, health workers expressed concerns about the costs and the need to train health workers before the large-scale implementation and integration of IV iron treatment into Malawi's routine care.
Conclusions
UNASSIGNED
Despite the perceived concerns and challenges experienced in participating in the first IV iron infusion trial in Malawi, participants' reflections suggest that IV iron infusion is acceptable for treating iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy. Participant advocate groups can offer a peer-to-peer education approach to sensitize and engage community members on the benefits of treatment and dispel concerns when the country contemplates integrating IV iron infusion for treating anaemia in pregnancy in Malawi.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38455670
doi: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13631.2
pmc: PMC10917769
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
66Informations de copyright
Copyright: © 2024 Manda-Taylor L et al.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
No competing interests were disclosed.
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