The evaluation of quality of immunization services of children in Primary Medical Sanitary Centers in Oron, Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria, with its low routine immunization coverage and wild poliovirus reservoir, significantly contributes to overall regional burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Since introduction of the EPI in 1974 (which later became the National Program of Immunization), Nigeria's immunization program suffered from declining coverage. The poor quality of immunization affects service utilization, even where they are provided for free, just as immunization services are. The quality assessment will provide both notion of degree of satisfaction of clients with services and framework for revision of program priorities, strategies and components Purpose of the study is to evaluate quality of immunization services provided to children in primary health centers in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study targets to identify strengths and weaknesses of immunization services, to evaluate level of compliance with national and international standards of immunization and to develop corresponding recommendations. The study seeks to contribute to body of knowledge about quality of children immunization services in Nigeria, particularly in context of primary health centers. The study may help to improve delivery of immunization services in the region and to ensure that more children will be vaccinated and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. The cross-sectional descriptive study of quality of immunization services in primary health centers was carried on in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The variables as indicators such as physical environment, resource availability, client satisfaction etc. were utilized and included into questionnaire. The study covered 402 caregivers and 152 medical workers in 12 primary health centers. The client questionnaire, facility staff questionnaire, facility checklist, personal observation,focus group discussion guide and client flow chart were applied. The results demonstrated that quality of immunization services was poor. The caregivers were dissatisfied both with reception by providers and too long waiting time. The attitude of health care providers was also mentioned as cause of dissatisfaction. This study demonstrated that community health extension workers constituted majority (39.4%) of immunization service providers. Out of 152 health care providers that participated in the study, 92 (60.9%) had attended in-service training on immunization within previous two years. The comparison of staff categories with attendance at in-service training established statistically significant difference (p=0.0072), suggesting that whether one attended in-service training or not depended on category of staff one belongs to. Of all staff, 112 workers (73.3%) knew proper vaccine storage temperature while 40 (26.7%) did not. The health care providers who do not know proper vaccine storage temperature may administer vaccines with compromised potency. Most of health care providers (149 or 98.0%) were aware that clients have particular rights that in overall is referred as client rights. Only by knowing rights of clients providers would be expected to respect these rights. The client right with which most of providers were agreed was right to information (105 or 70.2%). While right with which most providers were disagree (52 or 34.0%)) was right to choice of where and when access immunization services. The study conducted thorough quality assessment of children imunization services in primary health centers in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The results revealed both strengths and weaknesses in delivery of immunization services to children in the region. While there were areas of average performance due to experienced and trained health care workers, there were also areas of concern with inadequate cold chain storage and insufficient record-keeping practices. The study recommends to improve quality of immunization services in the region, including strengthening cold chain system, ensuring adequate record-keeping practices and implementing regular training and supervision of medical workers. These measures are crucial to ensure that more children are vaccinated and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. The results of the study contribute to body of knowledge on quality of children immunization services in Nigeria and emphasize importance to continue efforts improving delivery of immunization services to children. There is hope that proposed recommendations will become a basis for policy decisions making and ultimately will result in better health outcomes for children in Oron, Akwa Ibom State and beyond.