ADVERSE EVENTS FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATIONS REPORTING AMONG MOTHERS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS

Abstract

Background: Immunization activities are regarded as core components of public health interventions that are geared towards the provision of immunity against vaccine preventable diseases in both developed and developing countries. However, adverse events following immunization (AEFI) has the potential to reduce immunization coverage and confidence in vaccinations. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the adverse events following immunization among mothers and healthcare workers in the Tamale Metropolitan. Method: A health facility-based cross-sectional study (involving a mixed method approach) was conducted from October 2019 to July 2020 among Bilpeila, Nynohini, Vittin and Tamale Central Health Facilities. A total of 248 mothers and 4 healthcare informants were recruited onto the study. A chi-square test analysis was performed to identify the factors that are associated with the knowledge, and reporting of AEFIs. A 95% confidence level and statistical significance of p<0.05 was used. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 28.29 years (SD: 15.65). The prevalence of self-reported AEFIs was 85.9% (213). Knowledge of AEFIs was 89.9% (223). About 80.2% (199) indicated that they have ever reported incidence of AEFIs to a health facility. The major factors associated with non-reporting of AEFIs among mothers with under-five year’s children at health facilities in the Tamale Metropolis were found to include, condition not serious to report (65.3%), health workers do not give me the needed attention (63.3%), I manage at home (53.2%), I do not know how to report (44.4%) and I do not think it was necessary to report (41.5%). The factors that affect AEFIs reporting among healthcare workers included nonrecording of AEFIs, teaching mothers’ on how to manage AEFIs at home, cumbersome in the filling of the form and fear of being implicated for negligence. Educational status was significantly associated with reporting of AEFIs among the mothers at a p-value of 0.017. Conclusion: The study identified high reporting rate and knowledge of AEFIs among mothers and low reporting rate of AEFIs among healthcare workers in the Tamale Metropolis. Addressing the barriers to the low documentation of AEFIs among healthcare workers might improve reporting of AEFIs in the various health facilities.