23 / 32
Preventive Medicine 2018
Journal of Preventive Medicine
ISSN: 2572-5483
Page 72
July 16-17, 2018
London, UK
9
th
Edition of International Conference on
Preventive Medicine
& Public Health
Background:
Annually, vaccines prevent more than 2.5
million child deaths globally. WHO and UNICEF estimates of
immunization coverage in Iraq in 2016 revealed 63% for DTP3
and 66% for MCV1. Wasit is among governorates with a large
number of under-immunized children, opening the door for
many future outbreaks. Immunization session practices (ISPs),
when maintained of high-quality, can ensure safer and more
effective vaccination as well as higher coverage rates.
Objectives:
The main objective is to assess ISPs in primary
healthcare centers (PHCs) in Wasit province.
Methods:
We conducted this cross-sectional study on
24(44%) PHCs in Wasit province were selected by simple
random sampling. Based on WHO and the national guidelines,
checklists were developed to assess 58 ISPs that were grouped
into seven domains: vaccine and diluent management, cold
chain management, session’s equipment, communication with
clients and caregivers, vaccine preparation and administration,
card review and registration and waste management. The
score (out of 100%) was calculated for each domain in all
selected PHCs, and then the average for all domains was
calculated in each PHC. The assessment was made by direct
on-job observation of immunization sessions, through a single
visit conducted to each PHC.
Results:
The range of PHCs’ ISPs score was 52-78%; with a
mean of 67% (±8%). The highest scores were for the following
domains session’s equipment (88%), waste management (82%)
and card review and registration (81%). The least achieving
domains were communication with clients and caregivers
(36%) and cold chain management (38%). Vaccine preparation
and administration was scoring 69%, whereas the score for
vaccine and diluent management was only 50%.
Conclusion:
ISPs practiced in PHCs in Wasit province were far
fromthestandard.National expandedprogramon immunization
should work on raising the capacity of vaccinators, particularly
their communication skills with the clients and caregivers and
the management of vaccines and cold chain.
amily_ali@yahoo.comAssessment of immunization session practices in primary
healthcare centers - Wasit Province, Iraq, 2016-17
Ali Sadiq Jaafar
and
Faris Lami
University of Baghdad, Iraq
J Prev Med 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-003