Journal article

Assessment of missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) in Burkina Faso using the World Health Organization’s revised MOV strategy: Findings and strategic considerations to improve routine childhood immunization coverage

Background

Despite the remarkable achievements of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Burkina Faso, numerous challenges remain, including missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) which occur when people visit a health facility with at least one vaccine due according to the national immunization schedule, are free of contraindications, and leave without receiving all due vaccine doses. In 2016, we used the revised World Health Organization’s (WHO) MOV strategy to assess the extent of and reasons for MOV in Burkina Faso.

Methods

We purposively selected 27 primary health facilities (PHFs) from the eight health districts with the highest absolute numbers of children who missed the first dose of measles-rubella (MR1) in 2015. We conducted exit interviews with caregivers of children aged 0–23 months, and requested health workers to complete a self-administered knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) questionnaire.

Results

A total of 489 caregivers were interviewed, of which 411 were eligible for inclusion in our analysis. Medical consultation (35%) and vaccination (24.5%) were the most frequent reasons for visiting PHFs. Among the 73% of children eligible for vaccination, 76% of vaccination opportunities were missed. Among eligible children, the percentage with MOV was significantly higher in those aged ≥12 months and also in those attending for a reason other than vaccination. A total of 248 health workers completed the KAP questionnaire. Of these, 70% (n = 168/239) considered their knowledge on immunization to be insufficient or outdated; 83% failed to correctly identify valid contraindications to vaccination.

Conclusion

Addressing MOV offers the potential for substantial increases in vaccine coverage and equity, and ultimately reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). This will require the implementation of a series of interventions aimed at improving community knowledge and practices, raising health workers’ awareness, and fostering the integration of immunization with other health services.

Languages

  • English

Publication year

2020

Publisher

Vaccine

Journal

Vaccine

Volume

48

Type

Journal article

Categories

  • Service delivery

Countries

  • Burkina Faso

Organisations

  • World Health Organisation (WHO)

Tags

  • Missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV)

WHO Regions

  • African Region

Topic references

MOV-PUBLICATIONS

TitleAuthorYearTypeLanguage
A systematic literature review of missed opportunities for immunization in low- and middle-income countriesAnais Colombini, Bradford D. Gessner, Elise Guillermet, Nadira Maleq, Shruti Sridhar2014Journal articleEnglish
Assessment of missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) in Burkina Faso using the World Health Organization’s revised MOV strategy: Findings and strategic considerations to improve routine childhood immunization coverageBertrand Meda, Colin Sanderson, Edouard Betsem, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Isaie Médah, Lassané Kaboré, Laura Nic Lochlainn, Mâ Ouattara, Stephanie Shendale, William M.F. Kaboré2020Journal articleEnglish
Assessment of missed opportunities for vaccination in Kenyan health facilities, 2016Anyie J. Li, Colin Sanderson, Collins TABU, Iheoma U. Onuekwusi, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Isaac K. Mugoya, Kibet Sergon, Peter O. Okoth, Stephanie Shendale, Zorodzai Machekanyanga2020Journal articleEnglish
Can vaccination coverage be improved by reducing missed opportunities for vaccination? Findings from assessments in Chad and Malawi using the new WHO methodologyAnyie J. Li, Blanche-philomene Melanga Anya, Colin Sanderson, Dah Cheikh, Geoffrey Chirwa, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Joseph Okeibunor, Kwame W. Chiwaya, Mbaihol Tamadji, Mohamed El-Hafiz Djalal, Richard Mihigo, Zorodzai Machekanyanga2019Journal articleEnglish
Increasing routine immunization coverage by reducing missed opportunities for vaccinationWorld Health Organization (WHO)2017GuidanceEnglish, French
Intervention guidebook for implementing and monitoring activities to reduce Missed Opportunities for VaccinationWorld Health Organization (WHO)2019GuidanceEnglish
Missed opportunities for vaccination among children aged 0–23 months visiting health facilities in a southwest State of Nigeria, December 2019Akinola Ayoola Fatiregun, Elvis Isere, Fiona Braka, Francis Adegoke Akanbiemu, Itse Olaoye, Kofi Boateng, Lassané Kaboré, Laura Nic Lochlainn, Modupeola Dosumu, Richard Banda, Rosemary Onyibe, Yetunde Olagbuji2021Journal articleEnglish
Opportunities to improve vaccination coverage in a country with a fledgling health system: Findings from an assessment of missed opportunities for vaccination among health center attendees—Timor Leste, 2016Anyie J. Li, Colin Sanderson, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Laura Nic Lochlainn, Manuel Mausiry, Rosye Bela Joana Benevides Monizda Silva, Thelge Sudath Rohana Peiris2019Journal articleEnglish
Planning Guide to Reduce Missed Opportunities for VaccinationWorld Health Organization (WHO)2017GuidanceEnglish, French, Portuguese
Qualitative insights into reasons for missed opportunities for vaccination in Kenyan health facilitiesAnyie J. Li, Collins TABU, Ephantus Maree, Iheoma U. Onuekwusi, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Isaac K. Mugoya, Kibet Sergon, Peter O. Okoth, Stephanie Shendale, Zorodzai Machekanyanga2020Journal articleEnglish
Reducing missed opportunities for vaccination in Mozambique: findings from a cross-sectional assessment conducted in 2017Bvudzai Priscilla Magadzire, Gabriel Joao, Graça Matsinhe, Ikechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Laura Nic Lochlainn, Ruth Bechtel2021Journal articleEnglish
Reducing missed opportunities for vaccination in selected provinces of Mozambique: A study protocolIkechukwu Udo OGBUANU, Stephanie Shendale, Gabriel Joao, Bvudzai Priscilla MagadzireJournal articleEnglish
Studies of missed opportunities for immunization in developing and industrialized countriesH.A.F.M. Jansen, P. Evans, R.J. Kim-Farley, S.E. Robertson, S.S. Hutchins1993Journal articleEnglish