Healthcare workers' knowledge and practices regarding expanded program on immunization in Kalasin, Thailand
Onprasonk Widsanugorn1, Onprasonk Suwattana, Md Harun-Or-Rashid
1Huaimek Hospital, Huaimek District, Kalasin Province, Thailand. doctorbaby007@hotmail.com
Nagoya Journal of Medical Science
|September 21, 2011
Summary
Healthcare worker knowledge and practices significantly impact vaccine effectiveness. Targeted training and supervision are crucial for improving cold chain management and preventing vaccine failures, especially in remote health centers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immunization Programs
- Vaccine Cold Chain Management
Background:
- Primary vaccine failures can compromise immunization coverage even with high vaccination rates.
- Healthcare workers' knowledge and practices are critical in maintaining vaccine potency and preventing failures.
- Effective cold chain management is essential for vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess healthcare workers' knowledge and practices concerning immunization programs and cold chain systems in Kalasin, Thailand.
- To identify factors influencing knowledge and practices related to vaccine storage and handling.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current cold chain protocols in primary care units.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving interviews, observations, and document audits.
- Data collected from 117 healthcare workers across 90 primary care units in Kalasin, Thailand.
- Assessment of knowledge on immunization schedules, specific vaccines (e.g., Measles-Mumps-Rubella), and cold chain procedures.
Main Results:
- Inconsistent knowledge regarding immunization schedules (55.6%) and MMR vaccine (59.0%) was observed.
- Healthcare workers in hospitals demonstrated significantly better knowledge and practices than those in health centers.
- Inadequate cold chain practices were noted, with 13% of refrigerators outside the recommended temperature range and limited emergency preparedness (e.g., power failure protocols).
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in healthcare workers' knowledge and practices related to immunization and cold chain management.
- Enhanced training and regular supervision are recommended, particularly for health centers in remote areas, to improve vaccine handling and cold chain integrity.
- Addressing these gaps is vital for preventing primary vaccine failures and ensuring program effectiveness.
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