Vaccination sessions; challenges and opportunities for improvement: Experiences from Karnataka

Background: It is estimated that immunization averts between 2 and 3 million deaths every year. India has declared 2012-2013 as a year of intensification of routine immunization. Because the doctors train the health workers and paramedics in proper implementation of vaccine delivery, their knowledge should be perfect and no error or ambiguity of any sort is pardonable. Research Question: What is the operational knowledge about immunization among doctors? What is the effect of training in routine immunization among doctors? What is the effect of supportive supervision on field staff? Setting: Directorate of Health Services, Bangalore on 06/03/2007, East Godavari on 11/03/2007, Bangalore Mahanagar Pallike on 5-7/10/2007 and Mandya on 8-10/03/11. Supervision sessions were conducted at 33 sites of the Dakshina Kannada district. Study Design: This study is cross-sectional. Participants: Participants include RCH officers, medical officers, and immunization field staff. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire and interview method was followed. The pretest questionnaire was administered to RCH officers and MOs. The training program in two of these four areas was held immediately and the impact of training through the posttest was studied in one area. Supportive supervision sessions were then conducted in purposively selected immunization sites. Results: The overall knowledge among doctors improved after the training session. The mean score improved significantly in all the variables included in the study. Supportive supervision was also found useful in improving the routine immunization sessions at the field level.