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Impact of the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic on childhood routine immunisation services in Nepal : a qualitative study on the perspectives of service providers and users
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Khatiwada, Asmita Priyadarshini, Maskey, Smriti, Shrestha, Nistha, Shrestha, Sunil, Khanal, Saval, KC, Bhuvan and Paudyal, Vibhu (2021) Impact of the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic on childhood routine immunisation services in Nepal : a qualitative study on the perspectives of service providers and users. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 14 (1). 79. doi:10.1186/s40545-021-00366-z ISSN 2052-3211.
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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-021-00366-z
Abstract
Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected all essential healthcare services delivery in low-resource settings. This study aimed to explore the challenges and experiences of providers and users of childhood immunisation services in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with childhood immunisation service providers and users (i.e., parents of children) from Kathmandu valley, Nepal. All interviews were conducted through phone or internet-based tools, such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and messenger. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using theme-based content analysis in an Excel spreadsheet. Results: A total of 15 participants (n = 7 service providers and n = 8 service users) participated. Six themes were identified, namely: (1) impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on childhood immunisation services; (2) motivation and resilience for childhood immunisation; (3) Biosafety practices and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) availability during the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) service adjustments and guidelines during pandemic; (5) availability of vaccines; and (6) immunisation program resilience in view of COVID-19. Service providers mentioned facing disruptions in services and some parents had decided to delay scheduled immunisation. However, most service providers showed determinations to deliver the services with high morale, while most service users reported taking their children for immunisation. Families migrating from urban to rural areas during the pandemic led to service providers having no means to confirm complete immunisation of migrating children. Service providers also experienced lack of adequate guidance to deal with the pandemic and personal protective equipment to protect themselves and service users. Conclusion: Despite experiencing disruptions in childhood immunisation service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, service users and providers were determined to vaccinate the children. There is an urgent need for effective preparedness plans to be in place to address the observed barriers and to ensure resilient immunisation services during ongoing and future pandemics.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School |
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SWORD Depositor: | Library Publications Router | ||||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | COVID-19 (Disease) -- Nepal, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Nepal, Immunization of children -- Nepal, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- -- Health aspects -- Nepal, Child health services -- Nepal, Children -- Health and hygiene -- Nepal, Vaccination of children -- Nepal | ||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice | ||||||
Publisher: | BioMed Central | ||||||
ISSN: | 2052-3211 | ||||||
Official Date: | 29 September 2021 | ||||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | 14 | ||||||
Number: | 1 | ||||||
Article Number: | 79 | ||||||
DOI: | 10.1186/s40545-021-00366-z | ||||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights): | ** From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router ** History: received 21-07-2021; accepted 13-09-2021; registration 14-09-2021; pub-electronic 29-09-2021; online 29-09-2021; collection 12-2021. ** Licence for this article: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | ||||||
Access rights to Published version: | Open Access (Creative Commons) | ||||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 20 October 2021 | ||||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 20 October 2021 | ||||||
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