BACKGROUND: One of the key concerns in determining the appropriateness of establishing a measles eradication goal is its potential impact on routine immunization services and the overall health system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of accelerated measles elimination activities (AMEAs) on immunization services and health systems in 6 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. METHODS: Primary data were collected from key informant interviews and staff profiling surveys. Secondary data were collected from policy documents, studies, and reports. Data analysis used qualitative approaches. RESULTS: This study found that the impact of AMEAs varied, with positive and negative implications in specific immunization and health system functions. On balance, the impacts on immunization services were largely positive in Bangladesh, Brazil, Tajikistan, and Vietnam, while negative impacts were more significant in Cameroon and Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that while weaker health systems may not be able to benefit sufficiently from AMEAs, in more developed health systems, disruptions to health service delivery are unlikely to occur. Opportunities to strengthen the routine immunization service and health system should be actively sought to address system bottlenecks in order to incur benefits to eradication program itself as well as other health priorities.
BACKGROUND: One of the key concerns in determining the appropriateness of establishing a measles eradication goal is its potential impact on routine immunization services and the overall health system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of accelerated measles elimination activities (AMEAs) on immunization services and health systems in 6 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam. METHODS: Primary data were collected from key informant interviews and staff profiling surveys. Secondary data were collected from policy documents, studies, and reports. Data analysis used qualitative approaches. RESULTS: This study found that the impact of AMEAs varied, with positive and negative implications in specific immunization and health system functions. On balance, the impacts on immunization services were largely positive in Bangladesh, Brazil, Tajikistan, and Vietnam, while negative impacts were more significant in Cameroon and Ethiopia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that while weaker health systems may not be able to benefit sufficiently from AMEAs, in more developed health systems, disruptions to health service delivery are unlikely to occur. Opportunities to strengthen the routine immunization service and health system should be actively sought to address system bottlenecks in order to incur benefits to eradication program itself as well as other health priorities.
Authors: Svea Closser; Anat Rosenthal; Thomas Parris; Kenneth Maes; Judith Justice; Kelly Cox; Matthew A Luck; R Matthew Landis; John Grove; Pauley Tedoff; Linda Venczel; Peter Nsubuga; Jennifer Kuzara; Vanessa Neergheen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-09-01 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Kyla T Hayford; Mohammed S Shomik; Hassan M Al-Emran; William J Moss; David Bishai; Orin S Levine Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-12-20 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Sandra Mounier-Jack; Jean Marie Edengue; Mylene Lagarde; Simon Franky Baonga; Pierre Ongolo-Zogo Journal: Health Policy Plan Date: 2016-05-11 Impact factor: 3.344
Authors: Sandra Mounier-Jack; Ulla K Griffiths; Svea Closser; Helen Burchett; Bruno Marchal Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-03-25 Impact factor: 3.295