Evaluating Readiness to Expand Antenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Cambodia A Mixed-Methods Study on Health System and Pregnant Women in Takeo Province

What this Trial Is About

Malnutrition among pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries can lead to micronutrient deficiencies causing negative effects on maternal and newborn health. The World Health Organization recommends multiple micronutrient supplementation MMS, including iron and folic acid, during pregnancy to improve these outcomes. This study evaluates the implementation of MMS in Takeo Province, Cambodia, to understand health system readiness and inform nationwide scale-up. The study focuses on the transition from iron and folic acid supplementation to MMS across all health centers and hospitals in Takeo. Data collection involves mixed methods including focus group discussions with health providers, interviews with hospital managers and national stakeholders, workload surveys, supply monitoring, and phone surveys with pregnant women consuming MMS. These activities assess provider adherence, acceptability, resource needs, supply reliability, and economic factors related to MMS delivery. Participants include pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Takeo, healthcare providers, facility managers, and national officials. Women are followed up via phone surveys at 90 and 180 days after receiving MMS to assess adherence and acceptability. Provider workload and resource gaps are assessed, and perspectives on MMS integration into services are gathered. The study aims to generate insight into real-world implementation, identify challenges and adaptations needed, and support sustainable national MMS scale-up in Cambodia.

Assessing Health System Readiness for Scaling Antenatal MMS in Cambodia