Assessment of vaccine cold chain management status at public health facilities in dawuro zone, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

Cold chain is the system of transporting and storing of vaccine at the recommended temperature range. Cold chain includes three basic components: equipment for transport and storage, trained personnel to manage vaccine storage and distribution, and efficient management procedures. All three elements must be maintained at every link in the chain to ensure that the administration of the vaccine is safe. Objectives: To assess the status of vaccine cold chain management at public health facilities in Dawuro zone, South West Ethiopia. Method: Facility based cross-sectional study mainly quantitative and supplemented by qualitative method was conducted from February 30-March 20 2015. Data was collected from 31public health facilities, 31 vaccine handlers and 12 key informants. The quantitative data were checked for completeness and then entered into SPSS version 16 for analysis. Frequencies and proportions were used to summarize findings. Chi-square was used to test presence of association between sociodemographic variables and knowledge and practice level of vaccine handlers with (p-value< 0.05).. Data from in-depth interview were coded first, then categorized and finally analyzed by thematic content analysis technique. Lastly, triangulation of the qualitative findings with quantitative was carried out. Result: Of 31 public health facilities visited, 1(3.2%), 7(22.6%) and 23(74.2%) had good, medium and poor availability of cold chain equipments respectively to store and transport vaccines. From 31 vaccine handlers interviewed 10(32.3%), 11(35.4%) and 10(32.3%) had good, medium and poor knowledge level respectively on vaccine cold chain management system. In addition, out of 31 facilities assessed regarding vaccine handling and storage practice, 9(29%), 14(45%) and 8(26%) had good, medium and poor practice level respectively. Work experience and types of training on vaccine cold chain had a statistically significant association with knowledge and practice levels of vaccine handlers with (p-value< 0.05). This result was also supported by majority of key informants. Conclusion and recommendations: Vaccines in a third of the facilities were found to be at a high risk of losing their potency. There is an urgent need to distribute equipments, improve knowledge and practice on cold chain management through supportive supervision and training.