Conference abstract
Demand-Side Incentive (DSI) project to address immunization challenges in Cameroon: findings of baseline assessment
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:23(59).26
Nov 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.23.59.2821
Archived on: 26 Nov 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Zero dose, vaccines, Immunisation coverage, children, caregiver
Poster
Demand-Side Incentive (DSI) project to address immunization challenges in Cameroon: findings of baseline assessment
Chimi Eunice1,&, Paul Affa1, Chijioke Kaduru1, Obinna Ebirim1, Kehinde Adegoke1, Ngozi Ashinze1, Abisoye Oyeyemi1
1Public Health Sector (Social Enterprise), Corona Management Systems, Abuja, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: immunisation is a critical intervention in public health; it protects children from vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths. Yet, many children have either received none/some of the recommended vaccines. Despite evidence of overall improvement in Immunisation coverage post-COVID-19, significant disparities remain within countries like Cameroon, especially the zero-dose burden (ZDB). Address zero-dose and under-immunization. The objective was to determine the drivers of low vaccination rates, and poor timeliness. Assess vaccination coverage, as well as the potential to improve vaccination coverage in the Far North and East regions of Cameroon.
Methods: this cross-sectional baseline study employed a mixed-methods approach. In a household survey, a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire deployed via an Open Data Kit (ODK) was used to collect data from 850 randomly selected caregivers of children aged 0-23 months. In addition, 32 in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 community leaders in both regions, to assess the demand side context of immunization.
Results: most caregivers were females (98%), 21 - 30 years old (48%), unemployed (68%), and had had little or no formal education (37%). Less than 80% of eligible children had received Penta 1 vaccine. About 80% of caregivers had confidence in vaccine benefits. Financial and socio-cultural factors, notably associated with women were enunciated as barriers behind untimeliness. In the Far North, 60% of caregivers believed that a cash incentive could encourage them to participate in a vaccination exercise, against 45% in the East. Despite regional variations in the preferred incentive types, healthcare workers and community leaders had a positive attitude towards DSI.
Conclusion: identified gender-related barriers to vaccination such as gender norms, limited resources for women, and gender-based violence-informed program design. Identified barriers, like access to vaccination sites and gender issues, related to the preparation and cost/effort required at the different stages of the immunization journey map, tailored DSI intervention. Immunization stakeholders should implement multi-sectoral measures, including incentives, that will assist caregivers in surmounting access barriers. Interventions promoting male involvement are needed to improve vaccination coverage. Multi-sectoral measures are equally important in mitigating weather challenges that interfere with the project.
Demand-Side Incentive (DSI) project to address immunization challenges in Cameroon: findings of baseline assessment
Chimi Eunice1,&, Paul Affa1, Chijioke Kaduru1, Obinna Ebirim1, Kehinde Adegoke1, Ngozi Ashinze1, Abisoye Oyeyemi1
1Public Health Sector (Social Enterprise), Corona Management Systems, Abuja, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Introduction: immunisation is a critical intervention in public health; it protects children from vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths. Yet, many children have either received none/some of the recommended vaccines. Despite evidence of overall improvement in Immunisation coverage post-COVID-19, significant disparities remain within countries like Cameroon, especially the zero-dose burden (ZDB). Address zero-dose and under-immunization. The objective was to determine the drivers of low vaccination rates, and poor timeliness. Assess vaccination coverage, as well as the potential to improve vaccination coverage in the Far North and East regions of Cameroon.
Methods: this cross-sectional baseline study employed a mixed-methods approach. In a household survey, a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire deployed via an Open Data Kit (ODK) was used to collect data from 850 randomly selected caregivers of children aged 0-23 months. In addition, 32 in-depth interviews were conducted with 32 community leaders in both regions, to assess the demand side context of immunization.
Results: most caregivers were females (98%), 21 - 30 years old (48%), unemployed (68%), and had had little or no formal education (37%). Less than 80% of eligible children had received Penta 1 vaccine. About 80% of caregivers had confidence in vaccine benefits. Financial and socio-cultural factors, notably associated with women were enunciated as barriers behind untimeliness. In the Far North, 60% of caregivers believed that a cash incentive could encourage them to participate in a vaccination exercise, against 45% in the East. Despite regional variations in the preferred incentive types, healthcare workers and community leaders had a positive attitude towards DSI.
Conclusion: identified gender-related barriers to vaccination such as gender norms, limited resources for women, and gender-based violence-informed program design. Identified barriers, like access to vaccination sites and gender issues, related to the preparation and cost/effort required at the different stages of the immunization journey map, tailored DSI intervention. Immunization stakeholders should implement multi-sectoral measures, including incentives, that will assist caregivers in surmounting access barriers. Interventions promoting male involvement are needed to improve vaccination coverage. Multi-sectoral measures are equally important in mitigating weather challenges that interfere with the project.
