Qualitative Research to Increase Childhood Immunization Uptake among rural/semi-urban low socio-economic communities
Beneficiary: WHO Romania
Period of implementation: September 2024 - January 2025
Online: Official website Facebook
Goal
The study analyzes factors influencing vaccination behaviors in vulnerable communities in Romania, using the COM-B model. The research identifies barriers and facilitators among health workers to support public policies that reduce inequities in access to immunization.learning and contributes to increasing the number of skilled adults, in line with the objectives of the Education and Employment Program 2021–2027.
Key figures
Counties Analyzed
3 counties analyzed: Brașov, Timiș, Covasna
Interviews with Medical Staff
50 interviews with medical staff
4 categories of medical staff: family doctors (FD), general medical assistants (GMA), community medical assistants (CMA), health mediators (HM)
Theoretical Model and Interview Guides
1 theoretical model applied: COM-B
2 interview guides developed specifically for the types of medical staff
Resources
Human resources
Research team, family doctors, general nurses, community nurses, and health mediators involved in the study
Methodological resources
Interview guides tailored to each category of healthcare personnel, developed based on the COM-B model
Institutional resources
Support from the Public Health Directorates in Brașov, Timiș, and Covasna for participant recruitment
Objectives
Exploring how capacity, opportunity, and motivation influence vaccination behaviors in vulnerable communities
Collecting detailed perspectives from four types of health personnel (MF, AMG, AMC, MS)
Identifying regional differences in vaccination behaviors in counties with different vaccination coverage
Providing actionable recommendations for equitable increase in access to vaccination
Main activities
Developing interview guides based on the COM-B model, adapted to the vaccination context
Conducting 50 semi-structured interviews in the counties of Brașov, Timiș, and Covasna
Use of narrative and projective techniques to obtain authentic responses
Recruitment of participants through county public health departments (DSP)
Comparative analysis of results between counties with different vaccination rates
Results
Generate a solid set of qualitative data on vaccination perceptions and practices in disadvantaged communities in Romania
Identify significant regional differences between areas with low vaccination coverage (Brașov, Timiș) and high vaccination coverage (Covasna)
Highlight common and specific challenges for each category of healthcare personnel (MF, AMG, AMC, MS)
Highlighting cultural, logistical, and social barriers affecting immunization among Roma and rural communities
Providing concrete recommendations for improving local communication, access, and trust in vaccines
Validating the applicability of the COM-B model as a tool for designing interventions tailored to the Romanian context