The Anemia Surveillance System in Childhood in Health Region 6

Abstract

This descriptive study used CIPP Model in study of operation of iron supplement in preschool children. The samples were selected by multi–stages cluster sampling in 3 levels: province, district and sub-district. Research instruments were semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 624 volunteers who were directors, service providers and client groups. Information received from the interviews were used to create, test and evaluate the anemia surveillance system in childhood in health region 6. The data were analyzed using descriptive and content analyses. Results can be categorized into 2 areas: the operation of iron supplement in preschool children and the anemia system in childhood. In context evaluation, all levels of directors and service providers agreed that iron supplements policy support the children to be healthy and have a good development. The clinics have not dispensed iron supplements due to not knowing the policy and clear guidelines. Regarding input, all hospitals purchased iron supplements by using prevention and promotion budget from National Health Security Office (NHSO). Child caregivers were lack of understanding and awareness for needs for iron supplements in childhood. In process valuation, most of the directors and service providers knew that dispensing iron supplements is in NHSO’s benefits. Taking iron supplements among children aged 6 months to 2 years was monitored by village health volunteers while children aged 3-5 years were monitored by teachers in child development centers. In process evaluation, most clinics could not dispense iron supplements for service recipients due to lacking of clear operational guidelines and issues on data collection and analysis of child anemia in the areas. Child caregivers did not know the benefits and dosage of iron supplement in each age group. In outcome evaluation, most directors and service providers did not know the situations regarding iron supplementation disperse situation hence no reports and follow-ups in each area was made available resulting in low coverage of iron supplements intake among children. The children also reported that the taste of iron supplements was unpleasant.  It was found in the study that the anemia surveillance system in childhood was proved to be effective in increasing the intake rates of iron supplements among children with significant differences in iron supplement dispense at p=0.01.