Abstract
BackgroundUse of mobile information technology may aid collection of real-time, standardised data to inform and improve decision-making for polio programming and response. We utilised Android-based smartphones to collect data electronically from more than 8,000 households during a national round of polio immunisation in South Sudan. The results of the household surveys are presented here, together with discussion of the application of mobile information technology for polio campaign planning, implementation and evaluation in a real-time setting.MethodsElectronic questionnaires were programmed onto Android-based smartphones for mapping, supervision and survey activities during a national round of polio immunisation. National census data were used to determine the sampling frame for each activity and select the payam (district). Individual supervisors, in consultation with the local district health team, selected villages and households within each payam. Data visualisation tools were utilised for analysis and reporting.ResultsImplementation of mobile information technology and local management was feasible during a national round of polio immunisation in South Sudan. Red Cross visits during the polio campaign were equitable according to household wealth index and households who received a Red Cross visit had significantly higher odds of being aware of the polio campaign than those who did not. Nearly 95% of children under five were reported to have received polio immunisation (according to maternal recall) during the immunisation round, which varied by state, county and payam. A total of 11 payams surveyed were identified with less than 90% reported immunisation coverage and the least poor households had significantly higher odds of being vaccinated than the most poor. More than 95% of households were aware of the immunisation round and households had significantly higher odds of being vaccinated if they had prior awareness of the campaign taking place.ConclusionPre-campaign community education and household awareness of polio is important to increase campaign participation and subsequent immunisation coverage in South Sudan. More emphasis should be placed on ensuring immunisation is equitable according to geographic area and household socio-economic index in future rounds. We demonstrate the utility of mobile information technology for household mapping, supervision and survey activities during a national round of polio immunisation and encourage future studies to compare the effectiveness of electronic data collection and its application in polio planning and programming.
Highlights
Multiple types of surveys and methodologies are required to map polio immunisation coverage and collect data for planning, implementation and monitoring of polio immunisation campaigns. [1,2] These surveys often involve collection of a combination of geospatial and sociodemographic data from multiple households within multiple communities across different regions of a country
Implementation of mobile information technology and local management was feasible during a national round of polio immunisation in South Sudan
More emphasis should be placed on ensuring immunisation is equitable according to geographic area and household socio-economic index in future rounds
Summary
Multiple types of surveys and methodologies are required to map polio immunisation coverage and collect data for planning, implementation and monitoring of polio immunisation campaigns. [1,2] These surveys often involve collection of a combination of geospatial and sociodemographic data from multiple households within multiple communities across different regions of a country. Multiple types of surveys and methodologies are required to map polio immunisation coverage and collect data for planning, implementation and monitoring of polio immunisation campaigns. Sample sizes vary according to activity-specific methodologies, which include lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) and cluster-based sampling, and hundreds of individual and household records are required to be completed on paper forms. [2] The 2010–2012 Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) strategic plan emphasised that “the gap in credible and timely SIA coverage data to assess risks and guide improvements has been a continuing constraint in both endemic and in re-infected countries.” [6]. The results of the household surveys are presented here, together with discussion of the application of mobile information technology for polio campaign planning, implementation and evaluation in a real-time setting
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