Immunization drop-outs and maternal behavior: evaluation of reasons given and strategies for maintaining gains made in the national vaccination campaign in liberia

Abstract

Through annual National Vaccination Weeks, Liberia, one of thirteen African countries participating in the CCCD program, has achieved good rates of initial vaccination coverage against childhood diseases. However, rates of completion have been disappointing. Described is a community-based operations research methodology for a.) identifying reasons for non-completion of the vaccination series according to groups of mothers, front-line health workers and country level administrators, b.) for making recommendations for alternatives in the delivery system, and c.) for critiquing the focus group methodology as a tool for increasing commitment to program goals.