Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Nurses on Surveillance of Adverse Events following Childhood Immunization in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background. Although vaccines currently approved for routine childhood immunization are safe and effective, frequent adverse events following immunization often cause illnesses and sometimes loss of public trust in immunization programs. Nurses are essential in this surveillance system. Objective. To determine nurses' knowledge, perception, and practice towards surveillance of postimmunization adverse events within Nairobi County health centers, Kenya. Methods. This is a cross-sectional survey involving nurses (n = 274). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Differences in proportions of categorical variables were compared between groups using chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression model was used to compute independent predictors of outcome. Results. 29.2%, 32.1%, and 45.3% of the respondents had good knowledge, good practices, and good perceptions on AEFI surveillance, respectively. Respondents with diploma or degree nursing training level were 1.8 times and 2.5 times more likely to have good knowledge and good perception in AEFI surveillance, respectively. Nurses with previous AEFI training were 9.7 times and 1.8 times more likely to have good AEFI knowledge and practices, respectively. Conclusion. There is a need to train and mentor nurses on AEFI surveillance. Findings of this study will be valuable in informing policy review on childhood immunization programs.

Knowledge, Attitude and Reporting Practices on Adverse Events Following Immunization among Routine Immunization Service Providers in Health Facilities of Sokoto State, Nigeria

“…It was also consistent with a more recent study in Zaria, Northwestern Nigeria, which showed 58.9% of the respondents as having good knowledge on AEFI [22]. However, our finding was in contrast to that of Masika et al [16] in Kenya where less than 30% of the respondents had good knowledge on AEFI. Though the overall AEFI knowledge status of the respondents in the present study was good, knowledge gaps exist in some specific areas.…”

“…This is comparable to a study in Srilanka where 92% of nurses showed good knowledge on how to use adrenaline in the management of anaphylaxis [27]. However, the study result is in contrast with findings from an earlier study in Kenya, where less than 40% of the nurses knew how to manage post immunization anaphylaxis [16]. Generally, the incidence of severe adverse events such as anaphylaxis resulting from immunization is rare [28].…”

“…Available literature showed that health care workers in many developing countries have poor attitude and inadequate knowledge on AEFI and AEFI reporting system [9,[15][16][17][18][19]. In a study by Masika et al [16] in Kenya, only 29.2% of health workers studied had good knowledge on AEFI surveillance. In Nigeria, only a few studies were conducted on AEFI [20][21][22].…”

Vaccination in everyday life: experiences indicate Permanent Education

“…They also add the need to develop educational strategies on the subject. 31 The constant changes that occur in immunobiological agents also reveal the need for PE, as highlighted by the participants of this study.…”

Healthcare professionals' level of medication knowledge in Africa: a systematic review

“…The main finding in these papers was that PEP was underused, and it was speculated that this was partly due to the low level of PEP-related knowledge. Forty-eight questions were about different types of vaccines; 23 on hepatitis B [39][40][41][42][43], eight on human papilloma virus [44][45][46], three on influenza [47,48] viruses, and 14 questions on adverse events following immunization [49]. Questions were about overall awareness of different types of vaccines, and the effectiveness, what comprised a dose/full course, how long the vaccines offered protection, and about the safety of vaccination, adverse reactions after immunization, and medication used to prevent/relieve vaccinationrelated immune reaction.…”