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The study assessed the impact of an EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) intervention package, implemented within the existing service-delivery system, to improve the child immunization coverage in urban slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh. This intervention trial used a pre- and post-test design. An intervention package was tested from September 2006 to August 2007 in two urban slums. The intervention package included: (a) an extended EPI service schedule; (b) training for service providers on valid doses and management of side-effects; (c) a screening tool to identify immunization needs among clinic attendants; and (d) an EPI support group for social mobilization. Data were obtained from random sample surveys, service statistics and qualitative interviews. Analysis of quantitative data was based on a 'before and after' assessment of selected immunization-coverage indicators. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Ninety-nine per cent of the children were fully immunized after implementation of the interventions compared with only 43% before implementation. Antigen-wise coverage after implementation was also significantly higher compared with before implementation. Only 1% drop-out was observed after implementation of the interventions while it was 33% before implementation. At baseline, a significantly higher proportion of children of non-working mothers (75%) were fully immunized compared with children of working mothers (14%). Although the proportion of fully immunized children of both non-working and working mothers was significantly higher at endline, fully immunized children of working mothers dramatically improved at endline (99%) compared with baseline (14%). The findings suggest the effectiveness of a 'package of interventions' in improving child immunization coverage in urban slums. However, further research is needed to fully assess the effectiveness of the package, to assess the individual components in order to identify those that make the biggest contribution to coverage, and to assess the sustainability of this package within the existing service delivery system, particularly on a wider scale.

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Background: Out-of-hospital death among children living in resource poor settings occurs frequently. Little is known about the location and circumstances of child death following a hospital discharge. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the context surrounding out-of-hospital deaths and the barriers to accessing timely care for Ugandan children recently discharged from the hospital. Methods: This was a mixed-methods sub-study within a larger cohort study of post-discharge mortality conducted in the Southwestern region of Uganda. Children admitted with an infectious illness were eligible for enrollment in the cohort study, and then followed for six months after discharge. Caregivers of children who died outside of the hospital during the six month post-discharge period were eligible to participate in this sub-study. Qualitative interviews and univariate logistic regression were conducted to determine predictors of out-of-hospital deaths. Results: Of 1,242 children discharged, 61 died during the six month post-discharge period, with most (n=40, 66%) dying outside of a hospital. Incremental increases in maternal education were associated with lower odds of out-of-hospital death compared to hospital death (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19 -0.81). The qualitative analysis identified health seeking behaviors and common barriers within the post-discharge period which delayed care seeking prior to death. For recently discharged children, caregivers often expressed hesitancy to seek care following a recent episode of hospitalization. Conclusion: Mortality following discharge often occurs outside of a hospital context. In addition to resource limitations, the health knowledge and perceptions of caregivers can be influential to timely access to care. Interventions to decrease child mortality must consider barriers to health seeking among children following hospital discharge. Keywords: Pediatrics, post-discharge mortality, Uganda, qualitative interviews, infectious diseas.

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