Community Engagement in Routine Vitamin A Supplementation: Opportunity for first Contact for Children 6-11 Months of Age in the two Health Districts in Far North Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) is one of the most cost-effective interventions with the greatest impact in reducing infant and child mortality. The implementation of this intervention is done through routine mass campaigns in health facilities (HFs) following the child immunization schedule. Mass VAS campaigns are costly, donor-driven, and heavily dependent on funding for mass immunization campaigns. According to DHIS 2 (2020) data, Kaele and Guidiguis health districts had VAS coverage below 70% for 6-11 months in 2019. Results: In the two health districts, 188 people benefited from capacity building on VAS activities. That is 42 health workers (HWs) and 146 community health workers (CHWs). Of the 3520 children (50.5% girls and 45.5% boys; Guidiguis=1696 and Kaele=1824; average age= 7 months) who received their first dose of vitamin A (first contact), 2194 (62.32%) were in the HF and 1326 (37.66%) at the community (25.73% in advanced strategies and 11.93% in home visits (HVs). Conclusion: The capacity building of HWs and CHWs to be involved in VAS programs is a form of community engagement that could help catch up with children who are not accessing HFs services at the community level for VAS. We recommend further comparative research on the cost-effectiveness of community engagement in VAS programs versus mass vitamin A campaigns.