Trends among health professionals on pediatric vaccination. Impact of its modification. Bayamo. 2016-2019

Abstract

In Cuba, getting vaccinated is a safe act. Ensuring that this remains the case, making each vaccine truly immunizing, preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and providing safety for vaccination depends on the knowledge of the health professional. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational strategy on pediatric vaccination, aimed at primary health care professionals in Bayamo between 2016 and 2019, this research was carried out. The quasi-experimental study included design, application in 181 professionals and evaluation of the strategy. The dependent variable was level of knowledge and the independent variable was educational strategy, which dealt with contraindications, false contraindications (colds, concomitance with antibiotics) and factors that modify the immunogenicity of vaccination (steroids, immunomodulators, blood and derivatives). The level of knowledge about the topics before and after the intervention, the recovery of unvaccinated children and of non-immunizing vaccination was evaluated. The Wilcoxon signed rank test with a confidence index of 95% was used. Initially, the inadequate level of knowledge predominated around 70 (%), which decreased significantly. Twelve unvaccinated children and 60 non-immunizing vaccinations were recovered. The knowledge problems were detected in areas that do not imply danger to life or compromise safety or numerical vaccination coverage. Research has a preventive focus and increases the quality and effectiveness of vaccination. The cognitive level of the professionals was positively modified and the number of children with delay, inadequate contraindication or non-immunizing vaccination decreased. The educational strategy was considered effective.