Routine Immunization Microplanning Challenges and Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed-Method Landscape Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Microplanning is widely recognized as a critical tool for improving immunization coverage and equity and is considered a core component of routine immunization. However, there is limited evidence on how microplans are developed and implemented and the effectiveness of microplanning. As such, this study sought to review the existing evidence on implementation and institutionalization of microplanning; identify strategies to improve microplanning; and document evidence on new approaches to microplanning, including digitally enhanced and integrated microplanning.

METHODS

We employed a three-stage mixed-method approach. First, we conducted a literature review on microplanning for routine immunization. Second, we administered an online survey to gather insights into the factors that constrained and enabled microplanning in low-resource settings. Third, we conducted key informant interviews to better understand the barriers and enablers.

RESULTS

We found a paucity of published literature describing the drivers and effectiveness of microplanning and how to sustain it over time. Our review indicates that factors at both the development and implementation stages influence implementation and whether the process is sustained over time. These include the level of community engagement and health care worker ownership, access to data, the complexity of the microplanning tools, and the extent to which supervisors follow up on the plans.

CONCLUSION

Our review indicates that microplanning is successful when health care workers and communities are engaged in the development process. While these findings highlight the benefits of a 'bottom-up' approach to microplanning, this may be more resource-intensive, and there remains a need for more research on the costs and benefits.