Human-Centered Design Approach to Improve Efficiency of Routine Immunization

Shola Dele-Olowu of the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Nigeria will consult with a team of community members and health professionals to improve the efficiency of routine immunizations in primary health centers in Nigeria. The vaccination rate in Nigeria varies: while the overall average is 33%, in some areas only 3% of the population is vaccinated. Historical issues with service delivery including long wait times and lack of information have caused fear and mistrust of the healthcare system among caregivers. Although the government is working to improve vaccine coverage, the focus on increased efficiency without consideration of consumer perspective does not address this fear. They will apply a human-centered design (HCD) approach, increasingly applied in healthcare, to identify deficiencies and implement a workflow redesign to meet both caregiver expectations and the needs of overworked healthcare workers. They will consult with caregivers, healthcare workers, and community members to work through the core HCD phases of inspiration, ideation, and implementation, and develop two solutions. These will be tested in a randomized-control trial in healthcare facilities in Katsina state and evaluated for their impact on wait times, caregiver satisfaction, and efficient use of resources.