Lessons learnt from implementing community engagement interventions in mobile hard-to-reach (HTR) projects in...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• Nigeria faced challenges in polio eradication in 2014, particularly in rural, hard-to-reach (HTR), and insecure northern areas.
• The HTR project was launched in four northern states to improve immunization and maternal/child health services in these difficult regions.
• The project aimed to increase population immunity, boost oral polio vaccine (OPV) and other immunization uptake, and create demand for services in HTR areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of community engagement (CE) activities on immunization coverage in HTR areas.
• To examine the methods and processes that enhanced OPV and pentavalent vaccine (penta3) immunization rates.
• To assess the role of community engagers and user satisfaction with their services.

Main Methods:

• The study evaluated CE activities in Kano, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe states.
• Methods included assessing immunization coverage (OPV and penta3) and the number of caregivers mobilized by community engagers.
• Service satisfaction with community engagers' performance was also evaluated.

Main Results:

• Pentavalent vaccine (penta3) coverage increased from 22% to 62% within the first year.
• Oral polio vaccine (OPV) coverage rose from 54% to 76% during the project's 1-year implementation.
• Community engagement activities successfully mobilized caregivers to vaccination posts.

Conclusions:

• Systematic implementation of a CE strategy, involving community structures and engagers, was effective.
• This approach successfully increased OPV and penta3 immunization coverage in challenging HTR areas.
• The study highlights the importance of community engagement for improving immunization rates in underserved populations.