Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study

Objective The study sought to explore the perspectives of vaccinators on the health system factors that impacted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.Design The study employed an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design. Key-informants’ interviews were conducted using semi-structured guide to gather...

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Main Authors: Susanna Aba Aba Abraham, Gifty Osei Berchie, Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, John Oti Amoah, Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare, Deogratias Kaheeru Sekimpi, Diana Bosomtwe-Duker, Andrews Adjei Druye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e076184.full
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author Susanna Aba Aba Abraham
Gifty Osei Berchie
Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah
John Oti Amoah
Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare
Deogratias Kaheeru Sekimpi
Diana Bosomtwe-Duker
Andrews Adjei Druye
author_facet Susanna Aba Aba Abraham
Gifty Osei Berchie
Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah
John Oti Amoah
Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare
Deogratias Kaheeru Sekimpi
Diana Bosomtwe-Duker
Andrews Adjei Druye
author_sort Susanna Aba Aba Abraham
collection DOAJ
description Objective The study sought to explore the perspectives of vaccinators on the health system factors that impacted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.Design The study employed an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design. Key-informants’ interviews were conducted using semi-structured guide to gather the data. Thematic analysis following the steps of Braun and Clark was conducted using ATLAS.ti software.Setting The study setting was the Cape Coast Metropolis where the Central Regional Health Directorate is located. The Directorate initiates and implements policy decisions across the region. It is also the only metropolis in the region that recorded about 5970 of the total COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana.Participants Eleven vaccinators who had been trained for the COVID-19 vaccination and had participated in the campaign for at least 6 months were purposively sampled through the Regional Public Health Unit.Results Four themes were derived from the data after analysis; ‘vaccine-related issues’; ‘staffing issues’; ‘organising and planning the campaign’ and ‘surveillance and response systems’. Subthemes were generated under each major theme. Our results revealed the health service promoted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign through public education and ensured access to COVID-19 vaccines through the use of community outreaches. Also, the health service ensured adequate logistics supply for carrying out the campaign as well as ensured vaccinators were adequately equipped for adverse incidence reporting and management. Dissatisfaction among COVID-19 vaccinators attributed to low remuneration and delays in receiving allowances as well as shortfalls in efforts at securing transportation and a conducive venue for the vaccination exercise also emerged. Other challenges in the vaccination campaign were attributed to poor data entry platforms and limited access to internet facilities.Conclusion This study highlights the health system’s strategies and challenges during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, emphasising the need for critical interventions to prevent low vaccination rates.
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spelling doaj-art-05b824a8dcd645cf98bf3611919772a22025-08-20T03:48:42ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-12-01131210.1136/bmjopen-2023-076184Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory studySusanna Aba Aba Abraham0Gifty Osei Berchie1Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah2John Oti Amoah3Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare4Deogratias Kaheeru Sekimpi5Diana Bosomtwe-Duker6Andrews Adjei Druye7Department of Public Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Maternal and Child Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaClinical Microbiology/Public Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, GhanaCentre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD), University of Cape Coast College of Humanities and Legal Studies, Cape Coast, GhanaAdult Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaUganda National Association of Community Occupational Health, Kampala, UgandaNursing and Midwifery Training College, 37 Military Hospital, Accra, GhanaAdult Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, GhanaObjective The study sought to explore the perspectives of vaccinators on the health system factors that impacted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.Design The study employed an exploratory-descriptive qualitative design. Key-informants’ interviews were conducted using semi-structured guide to gather the data. Thematic analysis following the steps of Braun and Clark was conducted using ATLAS.ti software.Setting The study setting was the Cape Coast Metropolis where the Central Regional Health Directorate is located. The Directorate initiates and implements policy decisions across the region. It is also the only metropolis in the region that recorded about 5970 of the total COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana.Participants Eleven vaccinators who had been trained for the COVID-19 vaccination and had participated in the campaign for at least 6 months were purposively sampled through the Regional Public Health Unit.Results Four themes were derived from the data after analysis; ‘vaccine-related issues’; ‘staffing issues’; ‘organising and planning the campaign’ and ‘surveillance and response systems’. Subthemes were generated under each major theme. Our results revealed the health service promoted the COVID-19 vaccination campaign through public education and ensured access to COVID-19 vaccines through the use of community outreaches. Also, the health service ensured adequate logistics supply for carrying out the campaign as well as ensured vaccinators were adequately equipped for adverse incidence reporting and management. Dissatisfaction among COVID-19 vaccinators attributed to low remuneration and delays in receiving allowances as well as shortfalls in efforts at securing transportation and a conducive venue for the vaccination exercise also emerged. Other challenges in the vaccination campaign were attributed to poor data entry platforms and limited access to internet facilities.Conclusion This study highlights the health system’s strategies and challenges during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, emphasising the need for critical interventions to prevent low vaccination rates.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e076184.full
spellingShingle Susanna Aba Aba Abraham
Gifty Osei Berchie
Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah
John Oti Amoah
Dorcas Frempomaa Agyare
Deogratias Kaheeru Sekimpi
Diana Bosomtwe-Duker
Andrews Adjei Druye
Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
BMJ Open
title Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
title_full Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
title_fullStr Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
title_full_unstemmed Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
title_short Health service factors affecting the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a Ghanaian metropolis: A qualitative exploratory study
title_sort health service factors affecting the covid 19 vaccination campaign in a ghanaian metropolis a qualitative exploratory study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e076184.full
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