Assessment of immunization session practices in primary healthcare centers -Wasit Province, Iraq, 2016-17

Ali Sadiq Jaafar; Faris Lami

doi:10.21767/2572-5483-C1-003

Assessment of immunization session practices in primary healthcare centers -Wasit Province, Iraq, 2016-17

9^th Edition of International Conference on Preventive Medicine & Public Health
July 16-17, 2018 London, UK

Ali Sadiq Jaafar and Faris Lami

University of Baghdad, Iraq

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Prev Med

DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-003

Abstract

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 from the standard. National expanded program on 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.