Enhancing pharmacists' participation in maternal and child health in the Cape Town metropole: Focus on the expanded programme on immunization

Abstract

Maternal and child mortality is one of South Africa’s quadruple disease burdens. Child mortality is caused by neonatal and childhood illnesses, maternal HIV and AIDS transmission and malnutrition. Diarrhoea and pneumonia top the list of communicable diseases outside the neonatal period. One of the ways to prevent child mortality is through increased immunization uptake, a highly cost-effective method of prevention. The Expanded Program on Immunization in South Africa (EPI-SA) aims to prevent mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) of childhood. Annually, an estimated 2.5 million VPD deaths are reportedly averted. However, ideal vaccine coverage in the Cape Town metropole is marred by incomplete or non-vaccination associated with the health system and personal barriers. To achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 3.2, the importance of immunization and its adequate uptake should be emphasized in healthcare professional training and practice. This study will explore the baseline knowledge, skills, attitudes and practice of pharmacists in the Cape Metropole in immunization. As a follow-up to the baseline assessment, a continuing professional development course will be organized to enhance pharmacists' role in immunization. The project is currently at the literature review and ethics application stage.