Implementation research: reactive mass vaccination with single-dose oral cholera vaccine, Zambia.

Objective: To describe the implementation and feasibility of an innovative mass vaccination strategy - based on single-dose oral cholera vaccine - to curb a cholera epidemic in a large urban setting.

Method: In April 2016, in the early stages of a cholera outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia, the health ministry collaborated with Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization in organizing a mass vaccination campaign, based on single-dose oral cholera vaccine. Over a period of 17 days, partners mobilized 1700 health ministry staff and community volunteers for community sensitization, social mobilization and vaccination activities in 10 townships.

The impact of an immunization programme administered through the Growth Monitoring Programme Plus as an alternative way of implementing Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses in urban-slum areas of Lusaka, Zambia.

A time-lag study design was used to examine the effects of an immunization programme implemented through an integrated community-based child health approach called the Growth Monitoring Programme Plus (GMP+) in peri-urban areas of Lusaka, Zambia. The immunization coverage and sociodemographic data of eligible children and households were obtained from three repeated surveys in two intervention areas. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors affecting immunization coverage.

Access to a health facility and care-seeking for danger signs in children: before and after a community-based intervention in Lusaka, Zambia.

Objective: To assess the association of accessibility to a health facility with caregivers' care-seeking practices for children with danger signs before and after community-based intervention in Lusaka, Zambia.

Method: Health education on childhood danger signs was started in September 2003 at the monthly Growth Monitoring Program Plus (GMP+) service through various channels of health talk and one-on-one communication in a peri-urban area of Lusaka. Two repeated surveys were conducted: in 2003 to collect baseline data before the intervention and in 2006 for 3-year follow-up data.

Improvement in mothers' immediate care-seeking behaviors for children's danger signs through a community-based intervention in Lusaka, Zambia.

The large number of child deaths in developing countries is associated with delays in care-seeking by families, but the community-based efforts of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses developed by WHO/UNICEF has remained ineffectual. To improve caregivers' ability to recognise potentially life-threatening symptoms of major childhood illnesses, we provided education about the importance of danger signs and immediate care-seeking practices through a community-based intervention of 'the Growth Monitoring Programme Plus (GMP+)' in low-income areas of Lusaka, Zambia. Using repeated cross-sectional data from interviews, we compared attendance and non-attendance groups to assess the impacts of intervention on mothers' care-seeking.