Enhancing acute flaccid paralysis surveillance through the use of pictorial surveillance reminder cards during supplementary immunization activities, December 2014: a survey in Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) pictorial surveillance reminder cards (AFP cards) could aid AFP case identification during supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). We assessed the availability and utilization of AFP cards among vaccination teams during the December 2014 polio SIAs in Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 95 vaccination team supervisors.

Strengthening facility-based immunization service delivery in local government areas at high risk for polio in Northern Nigeria, 2014-2015.

Introduction: The National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) program was created in 2012 to support the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Local Government Areas (LGAs) at high risk for polio in Northern Nigeria. We assessed immunization service delivery prior to the commencement of NSTOP support in 2014 and after one year of implementation in 2015 to measure changes in the implementation of key facility-based Routine Immunization (RI) components.

Methods: The pre- and post-assessment was conducted in selected health facilities (HFs) in 61 LGAs supported by NSTOP in 5 states.

National Stop Transmission of Polio Program support for polio supplemental immunization activities in Nigeria 2012-2016: deployment of management support team.

Introduction: to support polio eradication activities in Nigeria, in 2012 the National Polio Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) created the Management Support Teams (MST) to address gaps in the quality of supervision of polio vaccination teams. The National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) Program supported the polio eradication activities by deploying trained supervisors as part of the MST for polio and non-polio immunization campaigns.

Methods: trained MST members were deployed approximately 4 days before the start of the campaign to participate in pre-implementation activities and supervise vaccination teams during campaigns.

Pilot implementation of a routine immunization module of the district health information system version 2 in Kano State, Nigeria, 2014 - 2015.

Introduction: Timely and accurate data are necessary for informing sound decision-making and developing effective routine immunization (RI) programs. We launched a pilot project in Kano State to strengthen routine immunization (RI) data reporting through the immunization module of the District Health Information System version 2 (DHIS2). We examined the completeness and timeliness of reporting monthly RI data one year before and one year after DHIS2 module pilot in the State.

A rapid qualitative assessment of barriers associated with demand and uptake of health facility-based childhood immunizations and recommendations to improve immunization service delivery in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria, 2017.

Introduction: This rapid qualitative assessment aimed to understand factors associated with persistent low vaccination demand and uptake, and recommendations to improve health facility-based childhood immunization services in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Methods: In 2017, 20 focus group discussions and 16 in-depth interviews were conducted with administrative personnel, healthcare workers, caregivers, and community influencers across three local government areas in Sokoto state, Northwest Nigeria. Participants were purposefully selected to capture a range of perspectives regarding access to health services, campaign- and facility-based immunizations, confidence in immunizations, and recommendations to improve childhood immunization uptake.

Knowledge and prevalence of Human African Trypanosomiasis among residents of Kachia grazing reserve, Kachia local government area, Kaduna state, Nigeria, 2012.

Introduction: Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a vector borne parasitic disease transmitted to humans by infected tse-tse flies cause morbidity including delayed child mental development. Reports of nuisance and bites from tse-tse flies by residents of Kachia grazing led to the study to determine the knowledge, practices and prevalence of HAT among residents of the grazing reserve.

Methods: We conducted active case search in a cross-sectional study using multi-stage sampling with probability proportionate to size.