Implementation of data triangulation and dashboard development for COVID-19 vaccine adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) data in Nigeria.

Nigeria began administering COVID-19 vaccines on 5 March 2021 and is working towards the WHO's African regional goal to fully vaccinate 70% of their eligible population by December 2022. Nigeria's COVID-19 vaccination information system includes a surveillance system for COVID-19 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), but as of April 2021, AEFI data were being collected and managed by multiple groups and lacked routine analysis and use for action. To fill this gap in COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring, between April 2021 and June 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with other implementing partners led by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, supported the Government of Nigeria to triangulate existing COVID-19 AEFI data. This paper describes the process of implementing published draft guidelines for data triangulation for COVID-19 AEFI data in Nigeria. Here, we focus on the process of implementing data triangulation rather than analysing the results and impacts of triangulation. Work began by mapping the flow of COVID-19 AEFI data, engaging stakeholders and building a data management system to intake and store all shared data. These datasets were used to create an online dashboard with key indicators selected based on existing WHO guidelines and national guidance. The dashboard went through an iterative review before dissemination to stakeholders. This case study highlights a successful example of implementing data triangulation for rapid use of AEFI data for decision-making and emphasises the importance of stakeholder engagement and strong data governance structures to make data triangulation successful.

Strengthening the capacity of healthcare providers to administer intermittent preventive therapy for malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria using a quality improvement strategy.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent Preventive Therapy using Sulfadoxine Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is a malaria control strategy to reduce cases of malaria in pregnancy in endemic countries. However, the administration of the recommended three doses of Intermittent Preventive Therapy (IPTp) throughout the stages of pregnancy still remains low in Nigeria. Limited knowledge by health workers on the administration of the recommended doses of IPTp to pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) services is partly responsible for this gap. This study applied Quality Improvement (QI) approach to improve knowledge and practice among healthcare providers with respect to the administration of IPTp-SP. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study design was carried out to evaluate the effect of QI approach consisting of training and coaching of healthcare providers to improve the administration of IPTp during ANC services. Primary Healthcare Centre Samaru was purposively selected and 11 healthcare providers participated in the study. The total duration of the intervention was for a period of 4 weeks which comprises of four training sessions conducted over a period of 2 weeks and four coaching sessions conducted for a period of another 2 weeks. The training package involved the use of the Information, Education and Communication approach of healthcare providers on IPTp administration while the coaching package involved supervision and follow-up meetings guiding healthcare providers on the protocol of IPTp administration. Antenatal care daily register was reviewed pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention period of the study. Data were analysed using line graphs and run charts. RESULTS: A total of 36 ANC visit weeks were observed between 21 November 2016 and 27 July 2017. There was overestimation of first dose of IPTp (IPTp1) as 8 of the 16 Weeks in the pre-intervention period had more than 100% of eligible women administered IPTp1. There was evidence indicating the process of IPTp1 was relatively stable post-intervention as the data crosses the median line only six times that is, 7 runs. This indicates that the process of IPTp1 was within normal variation over the post-intervention period. The patterns of IPTp2+ administrations shows the levels of IPTp2+ administration were erratic. There was an upward shift showing immediate improvement of the administration of IPTp2+ post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated training and coaching intervention approach improved the administration of the recommended three doses of IPTp within the context of a Primary Healthcare Centre. The data quality of the ANC daily register improved post-intervention.

Engaging stakeholders to identify gaps and develop strategies to inform evidence use for health policymaking in Nigeria.

Introduction: recent efforts to bridge the evidence-policy gap in low-and middle-income countries have seen growing interest from key audiences such as government, civil society, international organizations, private sector players, academia, and media. One of such engagement was a two-day virtual participant-driven conference (the convening) in Nigeria. The aim of the convening was to develop strategies for improving evidence use in health policy. The convening witnessed a participant blend of health policymakers, researchers, political policymakers, philanthropists, global health practitioners, program officers, students, and the media. Methods: in this study, we analyzed conversations at the convening with the aim to disseminate findings to key stakeholders in Nigeria. The recordings from the convening were transcribed and analyzed inductively to identify emerging themes, which were interpreted, and inferences are drawn. Results: a total of 630 people attended the convening. Participants joined from 13 countries. Participants identified poor collaboration between researchers and policymakers, poor community involvement in research and policy processes, poor funding for research, and inequalities as key factors inhibiting the use of evidence for policymaking in Nigeria. Strategies proposed to address these challenges include the use of participatory and embedded research methods, leveraging existing systems and networks, advocating for improved funding and ownership for research, and the use of context-sensitive knowledge translation strategies. Conclusion: overall, better interaction among the various stakeholders will improve the evidence generation, translation, and use in Nigeria. A road map for the dissemination of findings from this conference has been developed for implementation across the strata of the health system.