Abstract:
Despite didactic training on adverse events following immunization (AEFI) in Ghana, the reporting ratio
of AEFI was 1.56 per 100,000 surviving infants in 2015, below the minimum reporting ratio of 10. We
aimed to estimate the proportion of health care workers (HCWs) reporting AEFI and to identify barriers
to reporting.
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of HCWs in four regions in Ghana. A simple random sample of
176 health facilities was selected and up to two HCWs were randomly selected per facility. We used the
Rao-Scott Chi-squared test to compare factors associated with reporting of AEFI in the last year. We used
an open-ended question to identify reasons for low reporting. One supervisor from each facility, responsible
for overall reporting and management of AEFI, was also interviewed.
A total of 306 HCWs from 169 facilities were interviewed. Of these, 176 (57.5%) reported they had ever
encountered an AEFI. Of the 120 who had encountered an AEFI in the last year, 66 (55.0%) indicated they
had reported the AEFI, and 38 (31.7%) completed a reporting form. HCWs (n = 120) reported multiple barriers
to reporting of AEFI; the most common barriers were fear of personal consequences (44.1%), lack of
knowledge or training (25.2%), and not believing an AEFI was serious enough to report (22.2%). Discussion
of AEFI during the last supervisory visit was significantly associated with reporting in the past year (OR
7.39; p < .001). Of 172 supervisors interviewed, 65 (37.8%) mentioned their facilties had ever encountered
an AEFI; over 90% of facilities had reporting forms.
We identified low reporting of AEFI and multiple barriers to reporting among HCWs in the four selected
regions of Ghana. Discussing AEFI during supervisory visits with HCWs might improve reporting.
Additionally, strategies to address fear of personal consequences as a barrier to reporting of AEFI are
needed.