Peer-reviewed article
Prevalence, pattern and caregiver responses to adverse events following immunisation in selected secondary and tertiary hospitals in Osogbo Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sunday Charles Adeyemo, Funso Abidemi Olagunju, Abimbola Ololade Odeyemi, Efeturi Agelebe, Abisola Oluwatoyin OMOBOYEJE et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This study looked at how often infants in Osogbo, Nigeria experienced side effects after vaccination and how their caregivers responded. Researchers surveyed 368 caregiver-infant pairs at three hospitals. Most infants had some reaction, such as crying, fever, or swelling at the injection site, but almost none of the caregivers took their child to a health facility to report it. The study found that infant age, weight, and birth status were linked to whether a reaction occurred, and that being the child's mother influenced whether the caregiver responded appropriately.
Key points
- 71.7% of infants experienced an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI)
- Common reactions were inconsolable crying/irritability, fever, and swelling at the injection site
- Only 3.0% of caregivers sought healthcare facility help when AEFI occurred; 97.0% did not (inappropriate response)
- Infant age, weight, and gestational status at birth predicted AEFI occurrence
- Being the infant's mother (versus another caregiver) was a determinant of appropriate response
Limitations
The cross-sectional design cannot establish causation, and the findings are limited to caregivers at three hospitals in one Nigerian city, so they may not generalise elsewhere.
Abstract
Background Surveillance of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and appropriate reporting are essential ingredients of an effective immunization programme. Despite increasing recognition by caregivers, the response to it remains a major problem, with the majority being inappropriate. This study is therefore intended to determine the prevalence, pattern, and determinants of caregivers’ response regarding AEFI in Nigerian hospitals. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 caregiver-infant pairs across 3 Nigerian hospitals, using semi-structured questionnaires to document sociodemographic characteristics and the prevalence, pattern, and determinants of caregivers’ response. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27. Predictors of AEFI and determinants of caregivers’ response were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square and logistic regression. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of AEFI was 71.7%, with inconsolable crying/irritability, fever, and swelling at the vaccination site as the leading cases. Infant age, weight, and gestational status at birth were predictors of AEFI occurrence. Only 8 (3.0%) caregivers presented at a healthcare facility when AEFI was noticed (appropriate response), while 360 (97.0%) did not (inappropriate). The relationship of the caregiver to the vaccinated infant (mother) was found to be a determinant of caregivers’ response to the occurrence of AEFI. Conclusion An increasing prevalence of AEFI that was not followed by an optimally appropriate response from caregivers has been demonstrated. This calls for more public enlightenment focusing on the need to report AEFI at healthcare facilities, as this will help in ensuring vaccine safety and improvement in the immunization programme.