Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practice of Nurses on Surveillance of Adverse Events following Childhood Immunization in Nairobi, Kenya
Table 3
Perception of respondents towards AEFI surveillance.
Perceptions on AEFI surveillance
Agree, (%)
Neutral, (%)
Disagree, (%)
Believing that reporting an AEFI cannot lead to personal consequences
115 (41.9)
24 (8.8)
135 (49.3)
Believing that reporting an AEFI, such as injection abscess, will make him/her feel guilty about having caused harm and be responsible for the event
116 (42.3)
32 (11.7)
126 (46.0)
Believing that nurses are reluctant to report an AEFI when they are not confident about the diagnosis
173 (63.1)
40 (14.6)
61 (22.3)
Believing that investigation of AEFI should be done by clinical officers or doctors and not nurses
102 (37.2)
63 (23.0)
109 (39.8)
Believing that poor monitoring of adverse events can cause reduction of immunization coverage
110 (65.1)
24 (9.2)
140 (25.7)
Believing that the process of reporting an AEFI is long and tedious
69 (25.2)
56 (20.4)
149 (54.4)
Believing that reporting and investigating AEFI are none of his/her business
58 (21.2)
11 (4.0)
205 (74.8)
Believing that even if adverse events are reported to DVI/DPHN, no feedback is sent back
32 (11.7)
76 (27.7)
166 (60.6)
Believing that enhancing surveillance of AEFI can help build public trust in immunization program
200 (73.0)
14 (5.1)
60 (21.9)
Believing that nurses play a vital role in diagnosing, reporting, investigating, and managing AEFI
212 (77.4)
0 (0.0)
62 (22.6)
Desiring to learn more about how to diagnose, report, investigate, and manage AEFI
257 (93.8)
0 (0.0)
17 (6.2)
Believing that every nurse working at a health facility should know AEFI
207 (75.5)
6 (2.2)
61 (22.3)
Believing that he/she is always busy and there is no time to report AEFI
136 (49.7)
10 (3.6)
128 (46.7)
Believing that he/she is not interested in investigating or reporting AEFI to DPHN/DVI
27 (9.9)
22 (8.0)
225 (82.1)
Total sample size, . Data are presented as number of subjects and proportions (%). AEFI: adverse events following immunization. DVI: Division of Vaccines and Immunization; DPHN: District Public Health Nurse.
