Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors toward VPD Surveillance among Health Care Providers and Community Members in Georgia. Focus Group Discussion Report. Working Paper

摘要

Surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) is an important measure to estimate burden of diseases, decide on appropriate policy to reduce diseases, identify pockets of susceptibility, and control potential outbreaks. An earlier assessment identified major problems in the Georgian health system that limited the ability of current VPD surveillance efforts to provide quality information to guide public health action(s). The present study aims to provide further insight into problems with the current VPD surveillance efforts by obtaining research evidence on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward VPD surveillance among health care providers and community members. Researchers found that a variety of factors currently discourage a high percentage of infectious disease patients from self-reporting to health facilities through official channels and that, overall, the awareness of VPD is poor, though attitudes and behaviors toward VPD and immunization is positive.