Developing and validating an iron and folic acid supplementation indicator for tracking progress towards global nutrition monitoring framework targets: final report - June 2018
Overview
Antenatal iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation coverage is a core process indicator of the Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework (GNMF). This indicator is one of the four indicators in the GNMF that was deferred for reporting until 2018 following a request from the Member States for additional operational guidance on its use. The purpose of this report was to carry out a feasibility study in a set of selected countries in order to assess the feasibility of reporting on the proposed IFA indicator.
The feasibility study reviewed data sources for antenatal IFA supplementation coverage in line with the proposed definition of the indicator. Eight countries with different profiles in terms of anaemia burden, economic status, and geographic region were selected. Major data sources for antenatal IFA supplementation coverage in these countries included the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and country-level national health and nutrition surveys (NHNS) and health management information systems (HMIS). None of the data sources reviewed was able to provide complete information on the antenatal IFA supplementation coverage indicator as currently defined.
It is suggested that the indicator be simplified to the consumption of any iron-containing supplements during the current or past pregnancy within the last 2 years to align it more closely with major data sources, to avoid putting an undue burden on countries, and to generate the most reliable estimates.
Operational guidance for this proposed indicator is included in the Global nutrition monitoring framework: Operational guidance for tracking progress in meeting targets for 2025.
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