Peer-reviewed article
Assessing Postnatal Immunisation Services in a Low-Resource Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Alhassan Sibdow Abukari, Rejoice Gaddah, Emmanuella Vincentia Ayivor, Ibrahim Sadik Haruna, Emmanuel Kwame Korsah ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study surveyed postpartum mothers at a tertiary healthcare facility to understand what influences postnatal immunisation practices in a low-resource setting. The researchers found that good immunisation practices were mainly driven by mothers' adherence to immunisation schedules and satisfaction with healthcare communication. Poor practices were linked to limited resources, weak record-keeping, and inadequate provider support. The study proposes a two-factor model emphasizing schedule adherence and effective communication as key to improving vaccine coverage.
Key points
- Adherence to immunisation schedules explained 56.4% of variance in good postnatal immunisation practices
- Satisfaction with healthcare communication significantly influenced practices (8.3% variance)
- Barriers to good practice included limited resource availability, poor record maintenance, and insufficient provider support
- A two-factor model showed strong fit indices (CFI = 0.945; TLI = 0.927) and good internal consistency (α = 0.823–0.877)
- Recommendations include health education, improved service delivery, and culturally sensitive communication strategies
Limitations
The study used convenience sampling at a single tertiary facility, which may not represent postnatal immunisation practices across diverse low-resource settings or primary healthcare contexts. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causal relationships or track changes over time.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Postnatal immunisation is critical for maternal and child health, particularly in low-income countries. Despite international efforts, maternal awareness and access to care remain limited. Understanding the drivers behind postnatal immunisation services is critical for improving neonatal and maternal healthcare interventions. Methods: A tertiary healthcare facility’s postpartum mothers who were seeking immunisation services participated in a prospective cross-sectional electronic survey. Convenience sampling was used to select respondents, who then answered a structured electronic questionnaire intended to obtain information on immunisation practices. To evaluate important trends and correlations, data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A factor analysis was performed using the principal component analysis method, eigenvalue criteria, communalities, and confirmatory factor analysis. The study adhered to the STROBE guidelines. Results: We found that postnatal mothers’ good immunisation practices were influenced by their adherence to immunisation schedules (% variance: 56.407; Eigenvalue: 7.33), and significant satisfaction with communication (% variance: 8.338; Eigenvalue: 1.084); giving a cumulative variance explained of 64.745% of the total variance of variables under study. However, suboptimal practices include limited resource availability, poor record maintenance, insufficient support for side effects, a lack of support from healthcare providers, and a decline in immunisation recommendations, all of which had Eigenvalue <1 and insignificant percentage of variance contribution to the total variance explained. We developed a two-factor model of postnatal immunisation practices, focusing on adherence and effective communication. The model showed high loadings and adequate fit indices (χ2(34) = 91.333, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.945; TLI = 0.927; RMSEA = 0.071; SRMR = 0.042), good evidence of internal consistency (α = 0.823–0.877), and composite reliability (ω = 0.832–0.877). Conclusions: The study recommends a comprehensive approach to increasing newborn vaccine coverage, which includes health education, improved service delivery, and culturally sensitive communication strategies. Future research should focus on digital health interventions, community-based initiatives, and policy-driven postnatal care.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Assessment of postnatal immunisation service delivery and identification of drivers of good immunisation practices through structured survey and factor analysis
- Population
- Postpartum mothers seeking immunisation services at a tertiary healthcare facility in a low-resource setting
Key finding
Adherence to immunisation schedules was the strongest predictor of good practices (56.407% variance explained; Eigenvalue 7.33)