Lot quality survey: An appealing method for rapid evaluation of vaccine coverage rates in developing countries – Experience in Turkey

Background and objectives

Vaccine-preventable diseases cause a significant toll of morbidity and mortality, worldwide, in developing countries, the lot quality technique (LQT) could be used by local health personnel of district or rural health authorities in evaluating their performance in vaccination and many other health-related programs. This study aimed to evaluate vaccination coverage rates using LQT in a selected semi-urban setting in Turkey. Methods A LQT-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a district, on a representative sample of residents aged 12-23 months: to evaluate coverage rates for routine childhood vaccines; to identify health units with coverage rates below 75%; and, to investigate reasons for non-vaccination.
Results

Based on self-reports, coverage rates for BCG, DPT-3, oral polio-3, hepatitis-3, and measles vaccines ranged between 94- 99%. Coverage rate for measles was below 75% in 5 lots. The relatively high educational attainment and socioeconomic status of parents in the study group, alone, could not minimize the "considerable" risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and commands for continuity of efforts for improving vaccination rates, with special emphasis on measles; administrative methods should be backed up by household surveys to strengthen vaccination monitoring; and families should be trained and motivated to have their children’s vaccines not only “full” but “on time”, as well. Conclusions
The study identified the coverage rates for 7 routine vaccines completed before the child is 24 months old, and the areas requiring special attention in vaccination services. The LQT, is very efficient in determining performance of individual subunits in a given service area. Training of local health personnel on use of LQT could expedite response to local health problems and would even motivate them in conducting their own surveys tailored to their professional interests.

Key words: vaccination, lot quality, prevalence, monitoring, coverage