1
|
Yau IB, Zubair Mustapha M, Nwaze E, Nobila O, Maigoro A, Abdullah A, Gamawa A, Meissner P, Albrecht J, Müller O. Improving the timeliness and completeness of childhood vaccination through color-coded bracelets: a pilot study among Fulani tribe populations in Nigeria. J Public Health Afr 2023; 14:2079. [PMID: 37441119 PMCID: PMC10334432 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions. Globally, millions of children are not being reached with safe and effective vaccines and Nigeria has the highest number of unprotected children. Objective The effects of locally adapted interventions on vaccination timeliness and completeness were studied amongst Fulani populations across 6 health facilities in 2 districts of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Methods The intervention group consisted of newborns who received 5-color-coded bracelets representing different immunization contacts, while the control group had no bracelets. Vaccination rates across contacts were followed for 11 months. In addition, mothers of children in the intervention group were voluntarily recruited as peer-to-peer mobilizers (PPM). Results In this study, 435 children were studied. Vaccination completeness was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group at all contacts during follow-up. The difference was most noticeable at the fifth contact, with 158/256 (62%) children in the intervention group completing, compared to 73/179 (41%) in the control group (P<0.0001). Vaccination timeliness was better in the intervention group compared to the control one, which reached statistical significance at the second and third vaccination contacts (P<0.05). 68% of women volunteered as PPM and recruited 82 additional children for vaccination. Conclusion This study demonstrated the feasibility of a composite intervention (bracelets and PPM) to increase the completeness and timeliness of childhood immunization and provided preliminary evidence for its efficacy among Fulani populations in Nigeria. Findings from this pilot study should be confirmed through a larger cluster randomized controlled trial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inuwa Barau Yau
- National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Eric Nwaze
- National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Adamu Abdullah
- Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Adamu Gamawa
- Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Bauchi, Nigeria
| | - Peter Meissner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Jahn Albrecht
- Institute of Global Health, Medical School, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olaf Müller
- Institute of Global Health, Medical School, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Obi-Jeff C, Garcia C, Adewumi F, Bamiduro T, David W, Labrique A, Wonodi C. Implementing SMS reminders for routine immunization in Northern Nigeria: a qualitative evaluation using the RE-AIM framework. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2370. [PMID: 36528596 PMCID: PMC9758467 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14822-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short Message Service (SMS) reminders have improved vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the limited use of SMS reminders in LMICs requires evaluating the intervention's internal and external validity to improve adoption and sustainability. Using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, we qualitatively assessed the impact of a SMS reminder intervention implemented in Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria between May 20, 2019 and May 31, 2020. This will guide and inform future SMS reminder interventions to improve childhood immunization uptake in LMICs. METHODS In June 2020, we conducted 14 focus group discussions, 13 in-depth interviews, and 20 key informant interviews among 144 purposively selected participants from five local government areas of Kebbi State. For analysis, we used a deductive approach to develop preliminary codes based on the RE-AIM framework and the inductive approach to generate themes that emerged from the interviews. RESULTS The perceived importance and impact of the SMS reminder in improving demand and uptake for vaccinations were the consistent contributing factors that encouraged participants' participation. Other facilitators included the involvement of health workers in supporting SMS reminder registration and community gatekeepers using existing structures to convey messages on scheduled immunization services. Policymakers adopted the intervention because it aligns with the state's priority to improve immunization coverage. Similarly, the SMS reminder appealed to health workers and program managers because it reduced their workload and served as a performance monitoring tool to track immunization and intervention defaulters. Despite these, low mobile phone ownership and the inability to read text messages due to the low literacy level were the main barriers during implementation. Finally, data availability on cost-effectiveness and the intervention's impact on improving coverage was critical for scalability. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that SMS reminders in local languages could improve vaccination demand and uptake in resource-constrained settings due to their perceived importance and impact. Addressing the cited implementation barriers and promoting the facilitators is critical to its adoption and sustainability. Costing and impact data are needed to collaborate findings on the effectiveness of the SMS reminder to improve childhood vaccination uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chisom Obi-Jeff
- Department of Research, Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Cristina Garcia
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Funmi Adewumi
- Department of Research, Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Tobi Bamiduro
- Department of Research, Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Winnie David
- Department of Research, Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Alain Labrique
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of International Health and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Chizoba Wonodi
- grid.21107.350000 0001 2171 9311Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Baltimore, MD USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mahachi K, Kessels J, Boateng K, Jean Baptiste Achoribo AE, Mitula P, Ekeman E, Nic Lochlainn L, Rosewell A, Sodha SV, Abela-Ridder B, Gabrielli AF. Zero- or missed-dose children in Nigeria: Contributing factors and interventions to overcome immunization service delivery challenges. Vaccine 2022; 40:5433-5444. [PMID: 35973864 PMCID: PMC9485449 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.07.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Comprehensive review of recent literature on zero- or missed-dose children in Nigeria. Risk factors are well-known and widely studied. Literature on interventions was scattered, and focussed on campaigns and polio. Gaps exist in investigating how to deliver sustainable immunization programs. Further work is needed to operationalise findings of this review.
'Zero-dose' refers to a person who does not receive a single dose of any vaccine in the routine national immunization schedule, while ‘missed dose’ refers to a person who does not complete the schedule. These people remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases, and are often already disadvantaged due to poverty, conflict, and lack of access to basic health services. Globally, more 22.7 million children are estimated to be zero- or missed-dose, of which an estimated 3.1 million (∼14 %) reside in Nigeria. We conducted a scoping review to synthesize recent literature on risk factors and interventions for zero- and missed-dose children in Nigeria. Our search identified 127 papers, including research into risk factors only (n = 66); interventions only (n = 34); both risk factors and interventions (n = 18); and publications that made recommendations only (n = 9). The most frequently reported factors influencing childhood vaccine uptake were maternal factors (n = 77), particularly maternal education (n = 22) and access to ante- and perinatal care (n = 19); heterogeneity between different types of communities – including location, region, wealth, religion, population composition, and other challenges (n = 50); access to vaccination, i.e., proximity of facilities with vaccines and vaccinators (n = 37); and awareness about immunization – including safety, efficacy, importance, and schedules (n = 18). Literature assessing implementation of interventions was more scattered, and heavily skewed towards vaccination campaigns and polio eradication efforts. Major evidence gaps exist in how to deliver effective and sustainable routine childhood immunization. Overall, further work is needed to operationalise the learnings from these studies, e.g. through applying findings to Nigeria’s next review of vaccination plans, and using this summary as a basis for further investigation and specific recommendations on effective interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kurayi Mahachi
- College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | | | - Kofi Boateng
- Nigeria Country Office, World Health Organization, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Pamela Mitula
- Inter-Country Support Team, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Ebru Ekeman
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Laura Nic Lochlainn
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Rosewell
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Samir V Sodha
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bernadette Abela-Ridder
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Albis Francesco Gabrielli
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD), World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wonodi C, Obi-Jeff C, Adewumi F, Keluo-Udeke SC, Gur-Arie R, Krubiner C, Jaffe EF, Bamiduro T, Karron R, Faden R. Conspiracy theories and misinformation about COVID-19 in Nigeria: Implications for vaccine demand generation communications. Vaccine 2022; 40:2114-2121. [PMID: 35153088 PMCID: PMC8830779 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a worldwide phenomenon and a serious threat to pandemic control efforts. Until recently, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was not the cause of low vaccine coverage in Nigeria; vaccine scarcity was the problem. As the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines improves in the second half of 2021 and more doses are deployed in Nigeria, the supply/demand dynamic will switch. Vaccine acceptance will become a key driver of coverage; thus, amplifying the impact of vaccine hesitancy. Conspiracy theories and misinformation about COVID-19 are rampant and have been shown to drive vaccine hesitancy and refusal. This study systematically elicits the misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating about COVID-19 among the Nigerian public to understand relevant themes and potential message framing for communication efforts to improve vaccine uptake. METHODS From February 1 to 8, 2021, we conducted 22 focus group discussions and 24 key informant interviews with 178 participants from six states representing the six geopolitical zones. Participants were purposively selected and included sub-national program managers, healthcare workers, and community members. All interviews were iteratively analyzed using a framework analysis approach. RESULTS We elicited a total of 33 different conspiracy theories or misinformation that participants had heard about the COVID-19 virus, pandemic response, or vaccine. All participants had heard some misinformation. The leading claim was that COVID-19 was not real, and politicians took advantage of the situation and misused funds. People believed certain claims based on distrust of government, their understanding of Christian scripture, or their lack of personal experience with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to report a thematic analysis of the range of circulating misinformation about COVID-19 in Nigeria. Our findings provide new insights into why people believe these theories, which could help the immunization program improve demand generation communication for COVID-19 vaccines by targeting unsubstantiated claims.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chizoba Wonodi
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Chisom Obi-Jeff
- Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
| | - Funmilayo Adewumi
- Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | | | - Rachel Gur-Arie
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Carleigh Krubiner
- Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Elana Felice Jaffe
- University of North Carolina, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Tobi Bamiduro
- Direct Consulting and Logistics Limited Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | - Ruth Karron
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ruth Faden
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Eboreime EA, Olawepo JO, Banke-Thomas A, Abejirinde IOO, Abimbola S. Appraising and addressing design and implementation failure in global health: A pragmatic framework. Glob Public Health 2020; 16:1122-1130. [PMID: 32896213 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2020.1814379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
There have been recent concerns about the failure of several global health interventions. Interventions are considered to have failed when they are unable to achieve the intended results. Failure may be linked to how the intervention was designed (design failure) or how it was implemented (implementation failure). Recently, substantial efforts have been employed to improve the outcomes of health interventions. These efforts have led to the development of several theories, models, and frameworks in implementation science to improve the quality of implementation, bridging the divide between evidence and practice. But significant gaps still exist. Whereas much work has been done to develop frameworks and approaches to improve implementation fidelity, not as much effort has been done to guide the adherence of interventions to program theory during the design of the programs. Further, there have been concerns about the applicability of these frameworks in the real-world. This article uses examples to illustrate these gaps and further proposes a pragmatic framework to address identified gaps, thus aiding evidence-informed program design and implementation. The proposed Theory-Design-Implementation (TyDI) framework will support policymakers, program planners and implementers to address potential design and implementation failure, thus improving the fidelity of interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ejemai Amaize Eboreime
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.,Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - John Olajide Olawepo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.,Department of Health Sciences, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade Abejirinde
- Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Seye Abimbola
- The School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|