Developing a roadmap to reach and sustain 90% full immunization coverage through a cross-sectoral system strengthening strategy in Bihar, India.

INTRODUCTION: Reducing childhood mortality by curtailing the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases is contingent upon a robust and high-performing routine immunization system. According to the available data, the full immunization coverage (FIC) in the state of Bihar (India) has reached ~ 71%. While the government aspires to reach 90% FIC, a systematic evidence-based investigation of the reasons behind underimmunization as well as the identification of drivers and enablers to reach and sustain 90% FIC is critical. This study aimed to review the factors leading to underimmunized children in the state of Bihar and develop a forward-looking roadmap to reach and sustain 90% FIC by adopting a system strengthening approach. METHOD: We conducted a desk review, followed by extensive stakeholder interviews and field visits to document and analyze the data and evidence relevant to routine immunization system performance in the state of Bihar. The stakeholders included the State Immunization Officer, District Immunization Officers, Block-level health officials, representatives from development agencies, healthcare workers, and caregivers. A total of eighty-six structured interviews were conducted, which included qualitative and quantitative parameters. RESULT: While positive results were observed from the assessment of Bihar's immunization system, the implementation of targeted strategies for supply, service delivery and demand can provide a means to achieve FIC of 90%. The roadmap developed by the Government of Bihar enlists 40 + interventions across key thematic areas and has been prioritized over a 5-year time horizon as short, medium, and long-term milestones to achieve 90% FIC. These interventions include strengthening the data availability and quality, improving the governance and review mechanism, augmenting the capacity of health workers involve with immunization programme, and initiatives to increase demand for immunization services. CONCLUSION: The Bihar's Immunization Roadmap development project work follows a methodical approach to assess and identify intervention to improve immunization coverage and can provide information and reference to other states and countries that are aiming to formulate similar action plans.

Delivering hypertension care in private-sector clinics of urban slum areas of India: the Mumbai Hypertension Project.

In India, the private sector provides 70% of the total outpatient medical care. This study describes the Mumbai Hypertension Project, which aimed to deliver a standard hypertension management package in private sector clinics situated in urban slums. The project was conducted in two wards (one "lean" and one "intensive") with 82 private providers in each. All hypertensive patients received free drug vouchers, baseline serum creatinine, adherence support, self-management counseling and follow-up calls. In the intensive-ward, project supported hub agents facilitated uptake of services. A total of 13,184 hypertensive patients were registered from January 2019 to February 2020. Baseline blood pressure (BP) control rates were higher in the intensive-ward (30%) compared with the lean-ward (13%). During the 14-month project period, 6752 (51%) patients followed-up, with participants in the intensive-ward more likely to follow-up (aOR: 2.31; p < 0.001). By project end, the 3-6-month cohort control rate changed little from baseline-29% for intensive ward and 14% for lean ward. Among those who followed up, proportion with controlled BP increased 13 percentage points in the intensive ward and 16 percentage points in the lean ward; median time to BP control was 97 days in the intensive-ward and 153 days in lean-ward (p < 0.001). Despite multiple quality-improvement interventions in Mumbai private sector clinics, loss to follow-up remained high, and BP control rates only improved in patients who followed up; but did not improve overall. Only with new systems to organize and incentivize patient follow-up will the Indian private sector contribute to achieving national hypertension control goals.

Phone calls for improving blood pressure control among hypertensive patients attending private medical practitioners in India: Findings from Mumbai hypertension project.

Despite the availability of effective medication, blood pressure control rates are low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Adherence to medication and follow-up visits are important factors in blood pressure control. This study assessed the effectiveness of reminder telephone calls on follow-up visits and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients as part of the Mumbai Hypertension Project. This project was initiated by PATH with the support from Resolve to Save Lives from January 2019 to February 2020. The study included hypertensive patients attending 164 private practices in Mumbai, India; practitioners screened all adults visiting their clinic during the project period. Among 13 184 hypertensive patients registered, the mean age was 53 years (SD = 12.38) and 52% were female. Among the 11 544 patients that provided phone numbers and gave consent for follow-up calls, 9528 responded to phone calls at least once and 5250 patients followed up at least once. Of the 5250 patients, 82% visited the clinic for follow-up visit within one month after receiving the phone call. The blood pressure control rate among those who answered phone calls and who did not answer phone calls increased from 23.6% to 48.8% (P <.001) and 21.0% to 44.3% (P <.001), respectively. The blood pressure control rate at follow-up was significantly associated with phone calls (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.34 - 1.71). The study demonstrates that telephone call intervention and follow-up visits can improve patient retention in care and, subsequently, blood pressure control among hypertensive patients attending urban private sector clinics in India.