Modelization of recommendation framework advice for children immunization to Beninese decision makers

Abstract

The coverage of immunization against avoidable disease in the Republic of Benin as in other West African countries, is declining nowadays. To sustain the government effort, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG) were created technically and funded by the West African health organization (WAHO) and Preventive Medicine Agency in countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) including the Republic of Benin. The variation in experts’ methods of analyzing evidence sometimes results in risk error and lack of statistical power. This situation does not allow for the comparison of the scientific validity of certain recommendations made to policy makers, due to the lack of a rigorous framework. The aim of this paper is to design an improved framework to be used in the Republic of Benin in order to encourage a more harmonized approach based on evidence used by expert consultative committees. This framework shows four fundamental scientific steps including a Ministerial referral procedure, recommendation framework, evidence-based data collection, model analyses appropriate for expert advice on vaccines and child immunization, as well as three administrative steps including scientific discussion and work meetings without forgetting ethical aspects.