Applying HCD to improve the uptake of routine immunization: a case of South Sudan

Arize Okafor, Mellan Lilumbi, Anusha Nigudkar, Robert G. Nyaga, Ruth Wambua, Kriti Chouhan

Groundwork 27 Cover_IG Square

SECTOR

Health | Technical vertical

PROJECT TYPE

Field experiments

Location

South Sudan

BEHAVIORAL THEME

Participatory Research | Immunization | Health Systems Strengthening
OVERVIEW

Immunization is one of the key pillars of public health as it helps in the prevention of  most vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the uptake of immunization in developing countries is low and hindered by several systemic barriers such as fragile political systems, weak health institutions and policies, as well as behavioral barriers, especially concerns around the safety of vaccines and misinformation linking vaccines to health conditions such as autism and infertility. ,, The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the global immunization coverage has tanked since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that by 2023, over 2.7 additional million children, across the globe, were either unvaccinated or failed to complete the recommended immunization regime.

THEMATIC AREAS

This groundwork presents our experiences working with the UNICEF South Sudan office to increase the uptake of immunization among children in South Sudan, a country whose health ecosystem is undermined by conflict and political instability. UNICEF reports a high prevalence of zero-dose children, who have not initiated on any dose of required immunization, in South Sudan, with immunization coverage feared to be below the required national average.