title: Factors that affect the adoption and maintenance of weekly vitamin A supplementation among women in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify regimen, individual, community and cultural factors that affect adoption and adherence to weekly vitamin A supplementation in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who would be eligible for vitamin A supplementation, 30 with husbands, and 13 with drug sellers, birth attendants and health workers. Six focus group discussions were also conducted with women. These interviews were followed by a 4-month capsule trial with 60 women. Data from a previously conducted communication channel survey of 332 women were also reviewed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in Kintampo District in central Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants for the semi-structured interviews and focus groups were selected from four villages and the district capital, and women in the capsule trial were selected at random from two villages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knowledge of vitamins was low and taking 'medicines' for long periods and when healthy is a new concept. In spite of this, long-term supplementation will be accepted if motives are explained, specific questions answered and clear instructions are given. Potential barriers included the idea of 'doctor' medicines as curative, false expectations of the supplement, forgetting to take the supplement, losing the supplement, travelling, lack of motivation, perceived side-effects, concerns that the supplement is really family planning or will make delivery difficult, and concerns about taking the supplement with other 'doctor' or herbal medicine, or when pregnant or breast-feeding, or if childless.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful supplementation programmes require appropriately designed information, education and communication strategies. Designing such strategies requires pre-programme formative research to uncover barriers and facilitators for supplementation.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
authors: Zelee
authors: Z
authors: Hill
authors: Betty
authors: B
authors: Kirkwood
authors: Carl
authors: C
authors: Kendall
authors: Eunice
authors: E
authors: Adjei
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Arthur
authors: Charlotte Tawiah
authors: CT
authors: Agyemang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005869:Ghana; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A