RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Impact of health system strengthening on delivery strategies to improve child immunisation coverage and inequalities in rural Madagascar
JF BMJ Global Health
JO BMJ Global Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e006824
DO 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006824
VO 7
IS 1
A1 Elinambinina Rajaonarifara
A1 Matthew H Bonds
A1 Ann C Miller
A1 Felana Angella Ihantamalala
A1 Laura Cordier
A1 Benedicte Razafinjato
A1 Feno H Rafenoarimalala
A1 Karen E Finnegan
A1 Rado J L Rakotonanahary
A1 Giovanna Cowley
A1 Baolova Ratsimbazafy
A1 Florent Razafimamonjy
A1 Marius Randriamanambintsoa
A1 Estelle M Raza-Fanomezanjanahary
A1 Andriamihaja Randrianambinina
A1 C Jessica Metcalf
A1 Benjamin Roche
A1 Andres Garchitorena
YR 2022
UL http://gh.bmj.com/content/7/1/e006824.abstract
AB Background To reach global immunisation goals, national programmes need to balance routine immunisation at health facilities with vaccination campaigns and other outreach activities (eg, vaccination weeks), which boost coverage at particular times and help reduce geographical inequalities. However, where routine immunisation is weak, an over-reliance on vaccination campaigns may lead to heterogeneous coverage. Here, we assessed the impact of a health system strengthening (HSS) intervention on the relative contribution of routine immunisation and outreach activities to reach immunisation goals in rural Madagascar.Methods We obtained data from health centres in Ifanadiana district on the monthly number of recommended vaccines (BCG, measles, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) and polio) delivered to children, during 2014–2018. We also analysed data from a district-representative cohort carried out every 2 years in over 1500 households in 2014–2018. We compared changes inside and outside the HSS catchment in the delivery of recommended vaccines, population-level vaccination coverage, geographical and economic inequalities in coverage, and timeliness of vaccination. The impact of HSS was quantified via mixed-effects logistic regressions.Results The HSS intervention was associated with a significant increase in immunisation rates (OR between 1.22 for measles and 1.49 for DTP), which diminished over time. Outreach activities were associated with a doubling in immunisation rates, but their effect was smaller in the HSS catchment. Analysis of cohort data revealed that HSS was associated with higher vaccination coverage (OR between 1.18 per year of HSS for measles and 1.43 for BCG), a reduction in economic inequality, and a higher proportion of timely vaccinations. Yet, the lower contribution of outreach activities in the HSS catchment was associated with persistent inequalities in geographical coverage, which prevented achieving international coverage targets.Conclusion Investment in stronger primary care systems can improve vaccination coverage, reduce inequalities and improve the timeliness of vaccination via increases in routine immunisations.Data used in this study are available from the corresponding author on request.