Effectiveness of Strategic Interventions Targeted and Implemented to Improve Childhood Vaccination in District Nuh (Mewat) Haryana, India

Abstract

Introduction: In India, baseline ranking of the districts was done in the year 2017 to prioritize the dedicated efforts. Such districts were called as the aspirational districts. District Mewat of State Haryana, with a total population of around one million along with large gaps in majority of the health related indicators, had been listed at the bottom and hence, expectedly required maximum efforts. Since then, multiple strategic interventions were being put in place in the district to improve childhood vaccination coverage. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of multi-pronged strategic public health interventions targeted and implemented to improve immunization coverage in district Nuh (previously named Mewat), Haryana, India. Methodology: It is an observational study. The data was collected from reports / records. The collected was presented in analyzed form as the list of interventions, percentages and proportions, and the indicators like reported vaccination coverages pertaining to the period before (i.e., 2016 or before) and after (i.e., 2017 onwards) declaration of Mewat district as an aspirational district, and were compared in the light of socio-demographic and cultural characteristics, etc. Results: The socio-demographic and cultural milieu of district Mewat expectedly posed unique challenges to improving vaccination coverage. The reported coverage of Measles/ MR vaccine increased from 67% in 2016 to 71.9% in 2019. Conclusion: In-spite of the challenges, coverage of vaccination has been successfully improved. Recommendation: The findings of the study would be helpful in guiding the future course of action amid challenges in the district and similarly situated areas in the country.