Routine Child Vaccination in Uganda : Designing a vaccination service delivery model

Abstract: This paper provides a new system model for delivering routine vaccination service in Uganda in low resource settings by incorporating the entire supporting infrastructure from vaccination suppliers to vaccination receivers. The model introduces ways of improving access, service quality as well as caretakers’ motivation to complete their children’s vaccination schedule. A system model design is provided together with graphical user interfaces for all agents in the new system. Vaccination service is not easily available and too often not reliable due to rural health facilities being far away and in poor condition with few health workers, and because of an unreliable vaccine supply system (MoH 2010b; USAID 2010). Outreaches are irregular and of ad-hoc character. System wise, a geographically more centralized outreach program in direct connection to district vaccine stores could circumvent unreliable vaccine distribution channels and strengthen vaccine availability and quality. Families experience low motivation and knowledge about vaccination dates for their children to complete immunization programs (Tugumisirize et al. 2002). Community Health Workers, coordinated with help of ICT, can be used to encourage families to complete vaccination and inform them on upcoming vaccination outreach sessions. Qualitative research methodology, with methods including structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews, observations and literature studies, was chosen to analyze and evaluate the current Ugandan vaccination system. An agile-like product development process was used as a framework for finding and evaluating concepts underlying the artifacts design which represents the system (e.g., GUI). Outcomes of internal evaluations together with representatives of the client organization (ICT4MPOWER) indicate that the new system can increase access and service quality. We conclude that the new system can cure several present issues in vaccination service delivery. However, further studies are needed to appreciate practical feasibility of the new system, for example by considering cost and ICT infrastructure.