Perceptions, Knowledge, and Practices Related to Immunization Injection Safety in Nepal [2 documents]

At the request of the Ministry of Health, UNICEF Nepal office, and the USAID Nepal mission, General Welfare Pratisthan used qualitative research methods to gain insight into immunization provider and consumer perceptions and knowledge about immunization injection safety and actual field practices. GWP also hired a legal expert to research and document Nepali policy related to medical injections. Financial and technical support was provided by the Gates Children's Vaccine Program at PATH, Seattle, USA. The research team got the general impression that providers were discouraged and immunization safety was compromised because of lack of supportive supervision and monitoring, lack of constructive feedback, and no appreciation for their hard work. The vast majority of mothers had a positive view of immunization and want to get their children immunized. Most of them lack detailed knowledge about vaccines and the diseases they prevent, however they tend to trust provider assurances that immunization is necessary. And People receiving unsafe injections are at risk of infection with the hepatitis B virus, HIV, and other serious diseases. As the global burden of unsafe injections has become more clear2, concern about the potential negative effects of these practices in Nepal has grown. This exploratory, qualitative study was organized by General Welfare Pratisthan and the Gates Children’s Vaccine Program at PATH to better understand who is giving injections in the study area, why they are giving them, and how they are giving them. Consumer attitudes towards injections also were explored.