Assessment of Quality of Expanded Program on Immunization In Oromia Zone of Amhara Region
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
One of the goals of global program on immunization for the last two decades has
been to reach all children of the world with vaccination services. Though the
program aimed to reach all children of the world, around three million children
still die each year from vaccine preventable disease. These deaths mostly occur in
developing countries where health systems may be weak and less able to cope
with an overwhelming set of health problem. Moreover, in previous time much
of the attention was given to increase the EPI coverage, but now the expanded
program on immunization (EPI) is placing emphasis on the quality of the
services and a review of existing literature strongly suggests that the quality of
service provided is an important determinant of acceptance and compliance with
the service.
In Ethiopia, some of the important factors that impede progress towards the
achievement of the expected EPI coverage are; poor staff motivation, infrequent
in-services training and inadequate supervision, and most EPI service evaluation
focused on achievements of coverage and give less regard to the quality of
services. Therefore, this health service based cross-sectional descriptive study
was carried out to assess the quality of EPI service in Oromia Zone of Amhara
National Regional State. Health institutions were selected based on simple
random sampling technique and level of client satisfaction was assed by
interviewing mothers /caretakers at the exit site of the selected health
institutions after taken the immunization service. Data from the health
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institutions were taken by Observing cold chain system, interview with
immunization service providers and inventory of logistics. The result showed
that 422 (93.7%) of mothers/ caretakers were satisfied with the quality of the
services. Out of the nine selected health institutions, three (33.3%) had no
refrigerator, all service providers working in the selected health institutions have
adequate knowledge on immunization activities, and most health institutions
were not supervised for the last 6 months.
Adjusted Odds ratio results from multiple logistic regression for mothers /care
takers satisfaction suggested that waiting time, history of facing problem after
taking vaccination and discussion with health workers during immunization
sessions were found to be significant determinants of mothers’/care takers
satisfaction towards EPI services.
Generally, the quality of EPI service in the study area was found to be good but
for a generalization to be made, further studies has to be made with large sample
size at regional and national level to assess the quality of the programme
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Keywords
Assessment of Quality of Expanded Program