Assessment of Factors Affecting Vaccines Cold Chain Management Practices in Public Health Centers Found in Sebeta Town and the Surrounding Woreda of Oromia Regional State
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Date
2023
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: Curing and prevention of diseases are challenging circumstances for health-care
professionals. Immunization has been identified as one of the most cost-effective health
interventions in preventing diseases. Too high or too low temperature makes vaccines loss their
effectiveness and potency irreversibly and permanently. So, good management and handling of
vaccines is necessary. Storage area, storage equipment, transportation protocols, transportation
systems, the working staff, etc. are some of the factors that may affect the cold chain and logistics
of vaccines at different settings.
Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the factors affecting the vaccines cold chain
management practices.
Methods: A mixed method was implemented to identify the factors affecting the vaccines cold
chain management practices at Sebeta town and Sebeta Hawas Woreda from Aug 2022 to Oct
2022 G.C. and Census method and Purposive sampling techniques were used.
Result: Age of the respondents fall in the range of 24 to 48 years with a mean age and standard
deviation (SD) of 25.95±3.81. All the respondents know that freezing and heat affect the potency
of vaccines. 95.8% of the respondents know that OPV is the most heat sensitive vaccine whereas
97.9% of the respondents know that a contingency plan for power supply is important. Labeling
vaccines with time and date of reconstitution is known by 95.8% of the vaccines handlers. 10.5%
of the vaccinators and the vaccine handlers do not know that keeping foods and other items with
vaccines affect quality of vaccines. Information management system, man power availability and
storage facilities are highly significant factors that affect the vaccines cold chain management
practice indicating the R square from the regression is 0.586.
Conclusion: Despite high percentage of good knowledge and positive attitude, poor availability
and adherence to cold chain guideline, insufficient number of man power, insufficient storage
space in some health centers and low coverage of EPI trainings are determinant factors that
directly or indirectly affect the vaccines cold chain management practice in the study area.
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Keywords
Vaccines, Cold Chain, Health facilities, Immunization Programs