Supervision and monitoring to assess quality of outreach immunization sessions in a rural area using a checklist

Abstract

Background: Immunization is one of the most cost-effective interventions to prevent the suffering that comes from avoidable sickness, disability and death. Outreach immunization services ensure that immunization is available to children who are unable to access a general practice in a timely fashion for their immunization events. Effective supervision and monitoring will help in improving quality and coverage of immunization.Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in the rural field practice area of a tertiary care hospital. 50 outreach sessions held in various outdoor places including Anganwadi were supervised and monitored using checklist. 110 mothers and 20 stakeholders were interviewed. Immunization records were assessed.Results: Outreach immunization sessions were found to be of good quality. 89% children were fully immunized. ANMs and ASHAs were of the opinion that outreach session has significantly raised immunization coverage. 75.4% mothers had knowledge about services provided by outreach sessions.Conclusions: There was increase in immunization coverage due to outreach sessions. There is need for adequate supervision on safety injection practices and regular timely incentive to ASHA.