Comparative Study on Drivers and Barriers of Vaccine Stock Management Practices Among Healthcare Workers in Northwestern State, Nigeria

Abstract

The growing concerns regarding stock out of vaccines at the health facility level during immunization sessions have resulted in missed opportunity and caregivers losing confidence in the health system. This study assessed the drivers and barriers to effective vaccine stock management amongst healthcare workers in equipped and non-equipped health facilities in Jigawa state, Nigeria. A cross sectional comparative study was conducted to assess barriers of vaccine stock management amongst healthcare workers rendering routine immunization. A multistage sampling technique was used for the selection of respondents. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from respondents. Level of significance set at p<0.05. Majority of the respondents from equipped health facilities 142 (71.7%) and non-equipped health facilities 56 (28.3%) had between 1-9 years of practice. Use of target population data for vaccine forecasting had the highest responses with 60% of healthcare workers in equipped health facilities as compared to 22% from non-equipped health facilities. Reserved stock as a parameter for vaccine restocking had the least responses with 15% of healthcare workers in equipped health facilities as compared to 6% from non-equipped health facilities. Respondents from equipped health facilities had good practices of vaccines and cold chain management as compared to those from non-equipped health facilities. Poor electricity supply was statistically significant (p=0.029) with more responses from healthcare workers from equipped health facilities as compared to those from non-equipped health facilities. The findings from this study could be used to improve effective vaccine stock management at the state, LGA, and health facility levels. Keywords: Barriers, Comparative study, Healthcare workers, Nigeria, Vaccine management, practices.