Abstract

Infant mortality in Mali is one of the highest in the world. Although the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) has been in place since 1986, a joint evaluation by the United Nations Development Program, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF in 1990 showed that the number of children aged 12-23 months, whose immunizations were up-to-date, was 22% as opposed to the 80% targeted. This project will evaluate strategies aimed at increasing immunization coverage in three different zones of the country by 5%, using an experimental approach.

Researchers will collect baseline data on immunization status in the experimental and control areas; assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward immunization; gather socioeconomic data on the populations in both the experimental and control areas; assess the perception of providers of the EPI; select and implement strategies for increasing immunization coverage, in collaboration with the populations concerned; and assess the immunization coverage achieved by the new strategies. Results will be disseminated in Mali and other countries facing a similar situation.

Post-Project Summary

A postproject abstract could not be written due to lack of documentation (final report) in the IDRC library.

Recipient Institution(s)