Overview of the project
Title:
Addressing Social, Cultural and Historical Factors
Limiting the Contribution of Medical Laboratory
services to antenatal care in West Africa (SociaLab).
What is your
project about? To identify social, cultural and historical barriers to
the utilization of antenatal care test results in West
Africa
Via two components : anthropology and biomedical
science
Start and
end dates:
November 2012-November 2015
Policy Relevant Questions
• Is there a gap between policy and practice in terms
of ANC laboratory test utilization in Senegal?
• What are the reasons for this gap and how can they
be addressed?
• Is laboratory capable and are human resources for
laboratory sufficiently empowered to deliver ANC
tests in Senegal?
• Do historical factors influence the current policy in
terms of ANC testing in West Africa and how can this
be addressed?
Progress
At what stage is the research process?
 data collection:
 Data analysis:
 Data dissemination:
 winding-up:
Completed at the level of health facility and
the community
Ongoing at the level of policy makers
Ongoing
starting up
not started,
Data dissemination is under the responsibility of
researchers themselves, in Senegal.
Stakeholders Engagement
Main stakeholders
At what stages of the project have these
stakeholders been involved?
Division of Reproductive  Kick-off meeting (nov 2012)
Health
 Midterm meeting (june 2014)
 After the midterm meeting, with
presentation of preliminary findings
(Oct 2014)
Health Workers:
Midwives and
Laboratory Staff
 Kick-off meeting
 Data collection
 Midterm meeting
Stakeholder engagement strategies
What strategies has your project used to engage
your key stakeholders?
Invitation at dissemination/discussion meetings,
Workshops
in health facilities (part of data collection of
anthropologist)
Special meeting already held in the direction of Reproductive Health
with the Director and all the staff, with presentation of preliminary
results (Oct 2014)
Key messages
What research findings/implications is your team
advancing for stakeholder actions?
1.Although ANC coverage is high in Senegal, ANC screening test are
largely underused, creating a missed opportunity to detect serious
medical conditions.
2.Clear guidelines on minimum recommended ANC test package
need to be developed/adjusted by Direction of Reproductive Health,
in collaboration wit the Directorate of Laboratory and the HIV
programme. These guidelines should be disseminated adequately.
3.ANC laboratory test should be made more affordable
Key messages
4.Adequate utilization of ANC testing is not only the problem for
the laboratory and is not only a question of technical capacity,
1.
ANC services need strengthening in terms of reinforcing HR in
number, knowledge of the national guidelines and in the delivery of
informed ANC services to the clients,
2.
Laboratory services are properly equipped with skilled HR but need
to implement user friendly practices and
5.ANC rapid and integrated testing is a solution to increase
access to ANC screening in health post BUT quality assurance
procedure need to be implemented under the supervision of the
laboratory.
KT Products
What KT products/activities has your project generated or
accomplished so far?
–
–
–
–
Dissemination meetings (3)
Scientific abstracts: Global Heath Symposium (1) and ASLM Conference (2)
One paper in preparation
KTNet blogs (1), Newsletters (2)
What additional KT products and activities does your
coalition plan to undertake during 2015 and beyond?
–
–
–
–
–
Sharing at meetings (formal and informal),
Conferences, KTNet blogs,
Newsletters,
Newspaper and peer-reviewed articles,
Reports
Key research findings
What key research findings support these
messages?
1-More than 50% of women attending the lab for ANC screening
do not receive a complete set of ANC test results. This goes up to
69% in women receiving ANC in Health Posts
2-ANC tests feature in various documents, but do not match:
National guidelines for ANC, ANC register for the division of
reproductive health, Women's consultation booklets. The national
guidelines are not known by most of midwives.
Key research findings
What key research findings support these
messages?
3- ANC test panel cost between 8,000 - 12,500 CFA (±12.30 - 20€),
i.e 2.5 days work for someone with a regular salary; 51% of
women who came for tests to the lab indicated that price of tests is
an issue.
4-45% of midwives do not request a complete set of test even in
health facilities hosting a laboratory. Midwives are gate keepers to
the laboratory,
5-72% of laboratory have inconvenient opening hours and/or long
turn around time for test results, obliging pregnant women to
come back another day.
Challenges and opportunities
What KT related challenges has your project encountered?
•The lack of platform for discussion in various department of the
MoH.
•The language
•Media are not available unless paid
How has your project over come these challenges?
•Most challenges are not resolved
•Better implication of the division of communication of the MoH
(SNEIPS)
What opportunities does your project envisage to overcome these
challenges?
•A budget and a plan for media
Support
What support will your project require to produce
and execute the planned KT products and
activities?
Educate the stakeholders
Resources to:
– Engage the media
– Produce video material
– Support the organization of meetings with various
stakeholders
– Travel to conferences and relevant meetings
Thank you