Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Nurses on Surveillance of Adverse Events following Childhood Immunization in Nairobi, Kenya.

Calistus Wanjala Masika,Harrysone Atieli,Tom Were

doi:10.1155/2016/3745298

Abstract

Background. Although vaccines currently approved for routine childhood immunization are safe and effective, frequent adverse events following immunization often cause illnesses and sometimes loss of public trust in immunization programs. Nurses are essential in this surveillance system. Objective. To determine nurses' knowledge, perception, and practice towards surveillance of postimmunization adverse events within Nairobi County health centers, Kenya. Methods. This is a cross-sectional survey involving nurses (n = 274). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Differences in proportions of categorical variables were compared between groups using chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression model was used to compute independent predictors of outcome. Results. 29.2%, 32.1%, and 45.3% of the respondents had good knowledge, good practices, and good perceptions on AEFI surveillance, respectively. Respondents with diploma or degree nursing training level were 1.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to have good knowledge and good perception in AEFI surveillance, respectively. Nurses with previous AEFI training were 9.7 times and 1.8 times more likely to have good AEFI knowledge and practices, respectively. Conclusion. There is a need to train and mentor nurses on AEFI surveillance. Findings of this study will be valuable in informing policy review on childhood immunization programs.

Highlights

Immunization of infants and young children against serious infectious diseases is the most successful and cost-effective intervention in preventative health care [1, 2]
The high proportion of respondents ready to learn more about adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance as shown in this study will be essential to immunization managers, especially at health center level, to seize this positivity and offer AEFI training opportunities
Majority of the respondents working at Nairobi County health centers had poor knowledge and poor practice levels on AEFI surveillance

Summary

Introduction

Immunization of infants and young children against serious infectious diseases is the most successful and cost-effective intervention in preventative health care [1, 2]. Vaccination occasionally leads to undesirable effects including adverse reactions that are referred to as adverse events following immunization (AEFI) [3]. An adverse event following immunization is defined as any untoward medical occurrence which occurs after immunization and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the vaccine [3]. 29.2%, 32.1%, and 45.3% of the respondents had good knowledge, good practices, and good perceptions on AEFI surveillance, respectively. Respondents with diploma or degree nursing training level were 1.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to have good knowledge and good perception in AEFI surveillance, respectively. Findings of this study will be valuable in informing policy review on childhood immunization programs

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion