Evaluation of the cold chain for vaccine conservation in primary healthcare centers in the South and Midwest regions of São Paulo city, Brazil, in 2011-2012

Author(s)

Dante Raglione ^[1] ; Gustavo Antônio Marcolongo Bezerra ^[2] ; Marta Heloísa Lopes ^[3] ; Maria Lígia Bacciotte Ramos Nerger ^[4] ; Tereza Cristina Guimarães ^[5] ; Ana Marli Christovam Sartori ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[4] Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Coordenação de Vigilância em Saúde - Brasil

^[5] Secretaria Municipal de Saúde. Coordenação de Vigilância em Saúde - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde; v. 25, n. 1, p. 65-74, 2016-03-00.

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE: to assess the cold chain capacity, health workers' immunobiological product conservation knowledge and practices in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) in São Paulo city, Brazil. METHODS: this descriptive study included 24 randomly selected PHC in the South and Midwest regions of the city; between December 2011 and July 2012, we interviewed the health workers on their vaccine conservation knowledge/practice and observed the local infrastructure, using a form developed for this project; we assigned points to items of the form and classified each PHC as sufficient, regular or insufficient. RESULTS: most of the 24 PHC evaluated were administered by Social Organizations; all of them had vaccine storage chambers; 5 PHC reported using their maximum storage capacity; 9 PHC were classified as having sufficient knowledge/practice and 15 as having regular knowledge/practice. CONCLUSION: in these PHC, cold chain utilization was close to its maximum capacity; many health workers did not have basic knowledge about vaccine conservation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/20325-6 - Cold chain for vaccine conservation evaluation in Basic Health Units of São Paulo City
• Grantee: Gustavo Antonio Marcolongo Bezerra
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 11/20323-3 - Cold chain for vaccine conservation evaluation in Basic Health Units of São Paulo city
• Grantee: Dante Raglione
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation