The Expanded Program on Immunization Service Delivery in the Dschang Health District, West Region of Cameroon: A Cross Sectional Survey.

CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL176

Vaccination is the most effective intervention strategy, and the provision of vaccination at fixed posts and outreach posts is a backbone of a sustainable vaccination system in developing countries. Access to immunization services is still limited in Cameroon and several health districts in western Cameroon have recorded new epidemic outbreaks including the occurrence of a polio outbreak in 2013.

This study had as aim to assess immunization service delivery in one of the largest health districts of the western region of Cameroon, the Dschang Health district.

It was a cross sectional study conducted in 2013, in 42 health facilities covering 18 health areas in the Dschang Health District. Data were collected with questionnaires administered to health personnel face to face and an observation grid was used to assess resources and tools. Data was entered and analyzed in Epi Info.
A total of 42 health facilities and 77 health personnel were assessed. A total of 29(67.4%) health facilities organize one vaccination session monthly, 2(4.6%) organized an outreach within the last three months before our study, 16(37.2%) did not have a vaccination micro plan, 24(32.9%) health personnel had not been supervised for at least the last six months, 8(18.6%) health facilities did not have a functional refrigerator,2(4.7%) did not have a vaccine carrier, 24(55.8%) did not have a means of transport such as a vehicle or motorcycle and 13(30.2) did not have an EPI guideline. The knowledge of health personnel on vaccine and cold chain management was found to be limited and their knowledge on diseases of the EPI under epidemiological surveillance was also limited.
The frequency and strategic provision of immunization services in the Dschang Health district is limited. Resource availability for an adequate provision of immunization services is insufficient. The knowledge of health personnel on vaccine management, cold chain management and on diseases under surveillance by the EPI is limited.

EPI, Service Delivery, Dschang Health District, Cameroon.