TY - JOUR
T1 - Lessons from a training needs assessment to strengthen the capacity of routine immunization service providers in Nigeria
AU - Arogundade, Linda
AU - Akinwumi, Titilola
AU - Molemodile, Shola
AU - Nwaononiwu, Ebubechi
AU - Ezika, Joshua
AU - Yau, Inuwa
AU - Wonodi, Chizoba
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s).
PY - 2019/9/14
Y1 - 2019/9/14
N2 - Background: Health workers (HWs) providing routine immunization (RI) services play a crucial role in influencing vaccine uptake, a key determinant of improved immunization coverage. Over the years, Training Needs Assessments (TNAs) have not been routinely utilized in Nigeria to determine unmet needs of health workers offering immunization services and what approaches should be adopted to meet their training needs. The objective was to assess the level of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) knowledge among RI service providers and tutors in pre-service institutions in three Nigerian states, to identify unfulfilled training needs and their implications. It also sought HWs perception on a pilot training approach, where tutors will be used for in-service training. Methods: TNA survey tools were designed to obtain knowledge-based information on the fundamental EPI concepts through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 90 HWs and 27 pre-service tutors. Quantitative data was also obtained, hence utilizing a mixed method approach for the study. Results: In spite of several previous trainings, HWs knowledge on basic immunization concepts including Reaching Every Ward (REW) strategy was varied and suboptimal. 83% of the HWs could not differentiate between the live attenuated and killed vaccines. In addition, pre-service tutors knowledge of fundamental EPI concepts, as well as HW perception of the new training approach also varied across the states. Conclusion: TNAs are valuable in determining specific training approaches to improve HWs skills needed to implement strategies required to increase vaccine uptake. However, EPI managers must be mindful of contextual factors beyond training needs such as finance and security, that can affect HW performance.
AB - Background: Health workers (HWs) providing routine immunization (RI) services play a crucial role in influencing vaccine uptake, a key determinant of improved immunization coverage. Over the years, Training Needs Assessments (TNAs) have not been routinely utilized in Nigeria to determine unmet needs of health workers offering immunization services and what approaches should be adopted to meet their training needs. The objective was to assess the level of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) knowledge among RI service providers and tutors in pre-service institutions in three Nigerian states, to identify unfulfilled training needs and their implications. It also sought HWs perception on a pilot training approach, where tutors will be used for in-service training. Methods: TNA survey tools were designed to obtain knowledge-based information on the fundamental EPI concepts through key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 90 HWs and 27 pre-service tutors. Quantitative data was also obtained, hence utilizing a mixed method approach for the study. Results: In spite of several previous trainings, HWs knowledge on basic immunization concepts including Reaching Every Ward (REW) strategy was varied and suboptimal. 83% of the HWs could not differentiate between the live attenuated and killed vaccines. In addition, pre-service tutors knowledge of fundamental EPI concepts, as well as HW perception of the new training approach also varied across the states. Conclusion: TNAs are valuable in determining specific training approaches to improve HWs skills needed to implement strategies required to increase vaccine uptake. However, EPI managers must be mindful of contextual factors beyond training needs such as finance and security, that can affect HW performance.
KW - Adult learning
KW - Capacity strengthening
KW - Continuing Professional Development
KW - Continuing education
KW - Expanded Programme on immunization
KW - Health workers
KW - Health workforce
KW - In-service tutors
KW - Nigeria
KW - On-the-job training
KW - Reaching every Ward
KW - Training needs assessment
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U2 - 10.1186/s12913-019-4514-2
DO - 10.1186/s12913-019-4514-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 31521155
AN - SCOPUS:85072197349
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 19
JO - BMC health services research
JF - BMC health services research
IS - 1
M1 - 664
ER -