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. 2024 Feb 26;19(2):e0292765.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292765. eCollection 2024.

Predictors of vaccination card retention in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Matthew Y Konlan  1 , Fuseini Mahama  1 , Braimah B Abubakari  1 , Paul Konka  1 , Benedict O Appiah  1 , Maxwell O Yeboah  2 , Peter G Kwarteng  3 , Porbilla O Apea  3 , Michael R Adjei  4 , Martin N Adokiya  5 , Oheneba Boadum  6 , Hilarius A K Abiwu  1
Affiliations

Predictors of vaccination card retention in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Matthew Y Konlan et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The home-based vaccination card is an important health record for determining vaccination status of children during surveys, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. However, there are limited evidence on the factors that influence its retention in Ghana. We assessed the predictors of vaccination card retention in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from 21st December 2022 to 10th January 2023 among children aged 0-59 months in the Tamale Metropolis. Multi-stage sampling was used to select caregivers of children aged 0-59 months for enrolment in the study. Data were collected using validated questionnaire through face-to-face interviews of caregivers. A vaccination card was retained if it was presented for physical inspection by research assistants. The factors that influence vaccination card retention were determined in a multivariate logistic regression analysis at p<0.05.

Results: A total of 1,532 eligible children were enrolled in this study. Vaccination card retention was 91.5%. Negative predictors of card retention included: being resident in the Nyohini (AOR = 0.28; 95% CI = 0.15-0.50) and Tamale Central (AOR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.29-0.90) sub-Metro areas and being caregivers of children aged 24-59 months (AOR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.22-0.68). On the other hand, paying for the vaccination card (AOR = 5.14; 95% CI = 2.95-8.95) was a positive predictor of vaccination card retention.

Conclusion: In this study, vaccination card retention among children aged 0-59 months was higher than national estimates. Vaccination card retention was mainly influenced by sub-Metro area, age of child and mode of acquisition of the card such as out-of-pocket payment. There is need to design and deliver tailored messages including the importance of vaccination card retention to caregivers of children based on geographic context. Additionally, the policy on sale of vaccination cards should be revised to allow for cost sharing to enhance its retention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Percentage of caregivers with retained vaccination card in Tamale Metro.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Reasons for not retaining vaccination cards in Tamale Metro.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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