Vitamin a Supplementation Program in Burkina Faso: Coverage Performance during the Last Ten Years and Ways Forward
Robert L. J. C. Kargougou *
UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Bertine Ouaro
Ministry of Health, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Biram N'Diaye
UNICEF, Dar es salam, Tanzania.
Denis Garnier
UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Djibril Cisse
UNICEF, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Analyze the process, achieved coverages of the Burkina Faso'VAS program during the last ten years and ways forward to improve the quality of services and monitoring and evaluation system.
Methods: An indepth analysis using the conceptual framework from MI and UNICEF (2006).Thus VAS coverages from the tally-sheet system are analyzed and compared with data from DHS
Results: Data from the tally sheet system give at least 100% of VAS coverage in 83% of VAS events organized from 2001 to 2012. In 17% of case, low VAS coverage noted at the startup period of the program are associated with a lack of universal coverage based on the health district approach. Thus, the proportion of children protected against vitamin A deficiency moves from 60% in 2000 to 100% in 2012. However VAS coverage from DHS in 2003 and 2010 are lower than those provided by the tally-sheet information system during these two years (33% and 63% versus 69% and 100% of VAS coverage in 2003 and 2010, respectively). VAS coverages from survey could be affected by the lack of memory among caregivers about the service delivered.
Conclusions: This analysis shows significant progress of VAS coverage during the last ten years in Burkina Faso but the quality of services should be improved with the universal VAS coverage principle and the promotion of VAS at 6 months using the routine immunization platform. In addition post VAS event survey should be systematized as part of the quality control system.