ASSESSING THE HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPING PATHWAYS FOR THE UPTAKE OF VACCINATION AMONG NOMADIC POPULATION IN THE Upper WEST, SAVANNAH, BONO EAST, AND ASHANTI REGIONS OF GHANA

August 29, 2022 | Completed Projects | Reading time: 6 min

Study Team
Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Lawrence Gyabaa Febir, Dr. Samuel Afari-Asiedu and Charlotte Tawiah

Vaccination is an important public health intervention for saving lives from vaccine-preventable diseases. Globally, vaccination has contributed to reduction of illness, disability and death from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles. In spite of the improvement in global vaccination coverage over the years, there are hard-to-reach populations such as nomads and migrant who are exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Nomads who are largely pastoralists are virtually excluded from health services including vaccination because the provision of health services are not usually adapted to their way of life. More so, the mobility patterns make the targeting of nomad pastoralists for vaccination services difficult.

Objectives Of The Project
The Kintampo Health Research Centre in collaboration with UNICEF, Ghana is currently exploring opportunities for integrated health service delivery to develop pathways for the uptake of vaccination among nomadic populations in selected districts in the Upper west, Savannah, Bono East, and Ashanti regions of Ghana.

Study Aims to:
1.Map nomadic settlements in selected districts of Ghana
2.Conduct a rapid appraisal of movement pattern and health seeking behavior of nomadic populations.
3.Explore contextually appropriate Social and Behaviour Change Communication approach required to improve vaccination among nomadic populations
4.Develop a framework for vaccination among nomadic populations against diseases in Ghana.

Project start date: March 2022
Project end date:September 2022