September 5, 2025 Journal article Open Access

Firdawek Shenkute Ergetie1,2, Abebe Tarekegn Kassaw3 and Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie4

Citation Style Language JSON Export

{
  "DOI": "10.20372/nadre:17300", 
  "author": [
    {
      "family": "Firdawek Shenkute Ergetie1,2, Abebe Tarekegn Kassaw3 and Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie4"
    }
  ], 
  "issued": {
    "date-parts": [
      [
        2025, 
        9, 
        5
      ]
    ]
  }, 
  "abstract": "<p>Background: Vaccines are vital health commodities that need an appropriate<br>\nsupply chain system. They could be transported, stored, and used at appropriate<br>\ntemperatures. The purpose of this study was to assess vaccine cold chain<br>\nmanagement practices in primary health centers offering an expanded program<br>\nof immunization (EPI) in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia.<br>\nMethods: A self-reported and actual practice observational cross-sectional study<br>\nwas conducted at primary public health centers in the Bahir Dar city administration<br>\nfrom August 15 to 30, 2021. A simple random sampling method was used to select<br>\nstudy participants. An interview-administered questionnaire and direct actual<br>\npractice observation were used to collect data. The data was entered into the Epidata 4.6 program and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Participants&rsquo; knowledge,<br>\nstorage and transport conditions, IPLS management, and vaccine cold chain<br>\nmanagement practices were examined using independent samples t-tests and<br>\none-way ANOVA tests.<br>\nFindings: A total of 50 respondents from ten health centers were enrolled in the<br>\nstudy. Most of the EPI service providers had good knowledge (60%) and good<br>\npractice in vaccine storage and transport (74%). However, more than two-thirds<br>\n(68%) of EPI service providers had poor integrated pharmaceutical logistics<br>\nsystem (IPLS) management. Only half (50%) of the health centers had good actual<br>\nvaccine cold chain management practices. Higher educational background,<br>\nlonger work experience, and receiving training and supervision in EPI services, IPLS<br>\nmanagement, and vaccine inventory management resulted in higher knowledge,<br>\nstorage and transport management, IPLS management, and vaccine cold chain<br>\nmanagement practices.<br>\nConclusion: Although most EPI service providers in an interview assessment<br>\nreported having good knowledge and good vaccine storage and transport<br>\nmanagement, only half of the health facilities followed the standard. Stakeholders<br>\nare recommended to play a vital role in improving practices related to EPI services.<br>\n&nbsp;</p>", 
  "title": "Vaccine cold chain management practices in primary health centers providing an expanded immunization program in Northwest Ethiopia: self-reported and actual practice observational study", 
  "type": "article-journal", 
  "id": "17300"
}