Optimising the role of lead mothers in SMC campaigns: Insights from formative research in Kano state, northern Nigeria
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Resources: Poster
Authors: Ekechi Okereke, Helen Smith, Chibuzo Oguoma, Olusola Oresanya, Maxwell Kolawole, Ashiru Rajab, Emmanuel Shekarau, Festus Okoh, Erica Viganò, Laura Donovan, Charlotte Ward, Kevin Baker
Lead mothers can influence caregivers to adopt positive malaria prevention behaviours, but their recruitment and supervision could be improved.
Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is a safe and effective community-based intervention for preventing malaria in children under five years of age in areas of seasonal malaria transmission. Lead mothers are community health volunteers who help caregivers comply with the monthly administration of antimalarial drugs during SMC campaigns. The lead mother approach, in which female members of the community conduct health promotion activities, is used in several SMC implementing states across Nigeria; however, but there is lack of evidence on their role in, and impact on, SMC delivery. We sought to better understand the current role of lead mothers, as well as to identify areas for improvement and ways to
optimise the role of lead mothers during SMC campaigns.
This poster was presented at the 71st annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
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American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting