Obstacles to vaccination coverage for children aged 12 to 59 months in the Mangobo health zone from 2016 to 2019 in Kisangani (DR Congo)

Abstract

Introduction: Vaccination saves lives and is one of the greatest medical successes in the history of humanity. It saves around three million lives every year worldwide. Specifically, the study aims to determine the obstacles to immunization coverage of children aged 12 to 59 months in the Mangobo Health Zone and to identify the gaps between the administrative immunization coverage of the Health Zone and the coverage of household surveys. Methods: Using a retrospective descriptive approach based on documentary analysis and interviews, we selected a sample of 150 children aged 12 to 59 months living in the Mangobo Health Zone between 2016 and 2019. Results: Adverse events (45.3%) and vaccine stock-outs in the health areas (30.7%) were found to be the main obstacles to child immunization in the Mangobo Health Zone. The differences between administrative vaccination coverage and household survey vaccination coverage are very significant: for the VAA 64.07% and the VAR 62.07%. Conclusion: In order to optimize immunization coverage, it is essential to implement an effective policy for the management of health facilities by the Central Office of the Health Zone and to set up an effective monitoring mechanism with the aim of producing reliable epidemiological data.