African Journal of Public Health and Health Systems | 01 April 2003
Commentary: Evaluating a Mobile Application for Health Worker–Led Adverse Event Following Immunisation Surveillance in Nigeria
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Abstract
Effective surveillance of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) is essential for safe vaccination programmes. A primary study evaluated a mobile application for health worker–led AEFI surveillance in Nigeria, where reporting systems require strengthening. This commentary critically appraises the primary study’s findings on the application’s effectiveness, focusing on its impact on reporting rates, data quality, and frontline health worker experiences. As a commentary, this article synthesises and critiques the methodology and results of the original research, which used a mixed-methods approach across 50 health facilities. Key insights: The application significantly increased the volume of AEFI reports and showed improved reporting timeliness. However, qualitative data revealed a major constraint: health worker frustration with poor network connectivity, which often forced a return to paper-based systems. The mobile application presents a viable tool for strengthening AEFI surveillance in Nigeria, but its success depends on resolving key technical and infrastructural barriers. Future application development must prioritise a robust offline functionality. Sustainable implementation requires investment in digital infrastructure, ongoing health worker training, and integration of the application’s data into the national health management information system. adverse events following immunisation, surveillance, mobile health, digital health, Nigeria, health systems, commentary This commentary provides a critical analysis of a digital health intervention for AEFI surveillance, offering contextualised insights and practical recommendations for scaling similar technologies in low-resource settings.