Table 1

Intervention actions

Basic intervention actionMain activities
1Formation of the Promoters of Optimal Routine Childhood Immunisation Coverage (PORCHIC) group:By investigators:
  • Engage the PHC workers, cluster heads, CORPs and other locally relevant community members about the study and formation of the PORCHIC group.


By PHC workers:
  • Register parents of children aged 0–2 months who are seeking care at the PHC facility as PORCHIC members.


By CORPs:
  • Identify and refer to the PHC workers, for registration as PORCHIC members, parents of children aged 0–2 months:

    • Who the CORP heard (from relatives, friends, neighbours, etc) delivered their babies outside of the PHC facility (at home, TBA, etc)

    • Who the CORP has confirmed have not been registered by the PHC workers

  • Primary members: Investigators, parents of newborn babies who were registered when their babies were aged 0–2 months, and primary healthcare (PHC) workers.

  • Other members: Key community members (the cluster heads, community resource persons (CORPs), religious leaders and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) as locally relevant.

2Physical PORCHIC group discussion:
  • Regarding non-receipt and untimely receipt of routine childhood vaccinations.

  • To identify the determinants/proximal barriers and possible feasible solutions/strategies to addressing these barriers.

  • To enlighten the PORCHIC group members and by extension other community members.

  • To foster regular communications and working relationships between PORCHIC members.

First PORCHIC discussion/meeting (first episode):
Part 1 (Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on determinants):
  • Discuss determinants of non-receipt and untimely receipt of routine childhood vaccinations, possible solutions and feasibility of executing these solutions during the study.

  • Subdivide the FGD into two:

    • Female PORCHIC FGD to consist of the investigators, female parents, PHC workers, CORPs, TBAs, etc as necessary.

    • Male PORCHIC FGD to consist of the investigators, male parents, PHC workers CORPs, village heads, etc as necessary.


Part 2 (enlightenment group discussion):
  • Introduce the research problem and purpose of the study.

  • Let participants express their knowledge and perceptions regarding vaccines/vaccinations and routine childhood immunisation schedule.

  • Explain key facts about vaccines/vaccinations, routine childhood immunisation schedule and optimal/timely receipt of vaccinations.

  • Highlight key life-saving actions to practice and promote.

  • Discuss comments, questions and answers.

Second, third and fourth PORCHIC discussions or meetings:
  • To get the views of the new PORCHIC members (registered after the previous discussion(s)) on the determinants of non-receipt and untimely receipt of routine childhood immunisations and possible solutions.

  • To enlighten the new members and by extension other community members.

  • To reinforce the knowledge and perceptions of the old PORCHIC members.

  • To implement other solutions/strategies informed by the findings from the previous discussion(s) and engagements.

Second to fourth PORCHIC discussions/meetings (second to fourth episodes):
Part 1 (group discussion on determinants):
  • Discuss determinants of non-receipt and untimely receipt of routine childhood vaccinations and possible solutions.


Part 2 (enlightenment group discussion):
  • Introduce the research problem and purpose of the study to the new participants.

  • Let the old participants express their knowledge and perceptions regarding vaccines/vaccinations and routine childhood immunisation schedule.

  • Let the new participants express their knowledge and perceptions regarding vaccines/vaccinations and routine childhood immunisation schedule.

  • Explain key facts about vaccines/vaccinations, routine childhood immunisation schedule and optimal/timely receipt of vaccinations.

  • Let the old participants highlight key life-saving actions to practice and promote.

  • Highlight key life-saving actions to practice and promote.

  • Discuss comments, questions and answers.

3Subsequent registration of parents of newborn babies as new members of the PORCHIC group:By PHC workers:
  • Continue to register parents of children aged 0–2 months as PORCHIC members.

  • Briefly have enlightenment discussion with each mother or parent about optimal/timely receipt of routine childhood vaccinations.


By CORPs:
  • Continue to identify and refer parents of children aged 0–2 months to the PHC workers for registration as PORCHIC members.

4Weekly enlightenment discussions with parents in immunisation clinics:
  • To reinforce the knowledge and perceptions of the PORCHIC members attending the immunisation clinics.

  • To enlighten the other mothers or parents attending the immunisation clinics.

By PHC workers:
  • Facilitate enlightenment discussions with mothers or parents, using an abridged PORCHIC group discussion format, during the health talk sessions in the weekly immunisation clinics.

Adaptive intervention action
Other cluster-specific intervention strategies:
  • Informed as appropriate by any proximal solutions or strategies identified during the basic intervention.

  • Which are feasible considering the time frame and perspective of the study.

  • Implement new solutions and strategies as appropriate.