Immunization coverage among under-five children living along a school student through child-to-child and child-to-parent information, education and communication strategy

Background: In spite of being a principal producer and exporter of vaccines and billions spent over decades, India is home to one-third of the world's under-five children (U5C) with no immunization. Objectives: The objective of this study was to find the outcome of child-to-child and child-to-parent Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy on the current percentage of immunization coverage (IC). Methods: A mixed design research with multilevel concurrent sampling was conducted in Pune. Based on school students' households, 44 clusters having U5C were divided randomly into 11 experimental/control groups each. IEC strategy to students was independent variable and IC among U5C was dependent variable. Data were collected from 1092 students and 2352 U5C parents over 6 years. Vaccination card and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin mark were considered as evidence to conclude on full, partial and no IC. Change in knowledge quotient (KQ) among students/parents and U5C IC before and after IEC strategy assessed. Results: Rural/urban age-appropriate full IC of U5C was 51% and 67% before and 88% and 85% in post-IEC, respectively. The mean KQ change score of 8–12/20 in students is likely to increase full IC by 37% and 18%, decrease partial coverage at 14% and 12%, and improve none coverage at 23% and 16%, from its existing level positively in experimental groups. Numerous factors discouraged parents to pursue their U5C immunization. Conclusions: Advocacy through school students can be an economically viable alternative marketing strategy for inadequate U5C IC than billions spent on treating vaccine-preventable diseases and impractical options.

Diagnóstico participativo para la prevención y control del Aedes aegypti en una zona de riesgo.: Municipio Sancti Spíritus, 2007 / Participation diagnosis for intervention and control of Aedes aegypti in a risk area:: Sancti Spíritus municipality, 2007

Se realizó una investigación de desarrollo tecnológico consistente en una estrategia educativa con participación comunitaria en una zona de riesgo del Consejo Popular Colón, municipio Sancti Spíritus en el 2007. El estudio comprendió 2 fases: la primera, la elaboración de la estrategia donde se identificaron los factores ambientales y sociales que influyen en la aparición de criaderos de Aedes aegypti; la segunda fase, validación de la estrategia a partir del criterio de expertos. El universo de estudio incluyó los líderes comunitarios de la zona de riesgo que pertenecen a los consultorios médicos de la familia números 7, 13 y 25, del área de salud Sur. La muestra estuvo conformada por 12 participantes: médicos y enfermeras de la familia, trabajadores de la "campaña", representantes del gobierno local, de los Comité de Defensa de la Revolución y la Federación de Mujeres Cubanas, presidente del Consejo de Defensa y educador para la salud del área. Como resultado se diseñó una estrategia educativa de información, educación y comunicación con participación comunitaria, sobre la base de los principales problemas sociales y ambientales identificados, tomando en consideración las necesidades de aprendizaje detectadas en la exploración de conocimientos y prácticas de la población estudiada. La totalidad de los expertos coincidieron en que la estrategia diseñada tiene amplias posibilidades y probabilidades de éxito en su aplicación y consideraron que el enfoque educativo propuesto permitirá que la comunidad potencialice la responsabilidad individual, familiar y comunitaria con su salud.

A technological development research consisting in an educational strategy with community involvement in a risk area of the Consejo Popular Colón, Sancti Spíritus municipality in 2007 was carried out. Study included two phases: First, the design of a strategy to identify the environmental and social factors influencing on the appearance of Aedes aegypty breeding places; the second one the validation of strategy from the expert criteria. Study group included the health area community leaders of risk area from the number 7, 13 and 25 family physician consulting room of the southern health area. Sample included 12 participants: family physicians and nurses. "campaign" workers, local government representatives, Defence Committee of the Revolution and the Cuban Women Federation, the Defence Council Chief and the health area teacher. As result, information, education and communication strategy was designed with community involvement, on the base of the main social and environmental problems identified, taking into account the learning needs detected in knowledge exploration and practice of study population. The total of experts agreed that designed strategy has wide possibilities and probabilities of success in its application and considered that the proposed educational approach will allows that community strengthen individual, family and community responsibility in relation to health.