Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Child immunization coverage in rural hardto- reach areas: Evidence from project using multiple interventions

International Conference & Exhibition on Vaccines & Vaccination

22-24 Nov 2011 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, USA

Md. Jasim Uddin

Accepted Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Improved immunization coverage is essential to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of substantially reduced child mortality rates. Around the world, regional averages mask lower local coverage. In many cases it is children living in rural and remote areas especially in Africa and Asia have low coverage to immunization and this gap represents a devastating toll on the world�s population. From previous research, barriers to immunization in these areas were identifi ed and suggested interventions to improve coverage. Th e suggested combination of interventions were tested in Bangladesh to assess their impact to improve child immunization coverage in rural hard-to-reach hilly and haor (low lying) areas. Th is pre-post test design research was conducted during June 2008 to May 2010. Interventions (provider training, policy change, session schedule modifi cation, support group, use of screening checklist) were evaluated using immunization coverage indicators including �valid coverage�. Valid coverage increased at endline compared to baseline and the diff erence of the increase was highly signifi cant (p<0.001). Th e absolute diff erence of fully immunized between baseline and endline in intervention areas were 38 and 28 percentage points respectively. Th e fi ndings also showed that drop-outs, left - outs and invalid doses decreased at endline compared to baseline and the diff erence was also highly signifi cant (p<0.001). Combination of interventions implemented in rural hard-to-reach areas of Bangladesh contributed signifi cantly in improving child immunization coverage that could be implemented in other countries which are facing similar challenges

Biography :

Md. Jasim Uddin has completed his Ph.D degree in Health Management in 2006. He is a Scientist of International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDD,B). He has published about 20 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorial board member and reviewer of couple of peer reviewed journals