Effect of Mobile Phone Reminders and Recalls on Missed Immunisations among Infants in Two Health Facilities in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Background: Missed immunisation (MI) may contribute to low immunisation coverage in diverse settings, especially developing countries. Receipt of vaccines at the recommended ages and intervals will ensure that children are adequately protected from target diseases at all times. Immunisation reminder and recall (RR) systems are cost-effective methods of improving adherence to recommended immunisation schedules. This study, therefore, determined the effect of immunisation reminders and recalls on reducing missed immunisations in Abakaliki.

Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted among caregivers of infants in rural health facilities in Abakaliki. Mile-Four and St. Vincent hospitals located in Ebonyi and Izzi Local Government Areas (LGA) respectively in Ebonyi State were selected purposively. Mile-Four was assigned intervention group and St. Vincent as control group. The sample size was determined using the formula for comparing two proportions. Caregiver-child pair was recruited during the infants’ BCG or Pentavalent vaccines 1 immunisation visit and followed till the final scheduled immunisation visit for each child. Data was collected using a questionnaire, proforma and checklist. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 was used for analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee (REC) of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).

Results: A greater proportion of respondents in the intervention group (8.3%) missed vaccination at the 6th and 10th weeks when compared with the 4.1% and 6.9% for the above mentioned weeks respectively in the control group. In the control group, a greater proportion (22.1%) missed vaccination than the intervention group (8.9%) at the 14th week, a difference in the proportion that was significant (p=0.04). Relative to female caregivers, male caregivers are 6.2 times more likely to miss immunisation in the intervention group. They are 2.3 times more likely to miss immunisation than the female ones in the control group. Those at older age (≥30 years) are 1.2 times more likely to miss immunisation than those of younger age group.

Conclusion: Mobile phone reminders and recall has proven effective in reducing childhood missed immunisations and non-compliance in Abakaliki. Implementation of immunisation reminders and recall systems is therefore recommended in immunisation clinics in developing countries especially in Nigeria for immunisation timeliness and completion.