Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41878585›Full record

ArticleBMJ public health2026

Caregiver and healthcare professional perspectives on drivers of routine immunisation uptake in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea: a qualitative study.

Milena Dalton, William Pomat, Benjamin Sanderson, Pele Melepia, Hannah A James, Delmah Burangat, Lynette Duwaba, Daniel Willie, Benjamin Paivu, Patrick Kiromat and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Milena DaltonBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8479-1855
William PomatPapua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.
Benjamin SandersonBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Pele MelepiaMustard Seed Global, Glenmore Park, New South Wales, Australia.
Hannah A JamesBurnet Institute, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Delmah BurangatBurnet Institute, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Lynette DuwabaBurnet Institute, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Daniel WillieBurnet Institute, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Benjamin PaivuBurnet Institute, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Patrick KiromatEast New Britain Provincial Health Authority, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Elsie StanleyEast New Britain Provincial Health Authority, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea.
Edward WaraminGovernment of Papua New Guinea National Department of Health, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Moses LamanPapua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Shelley WalkerBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Caroline HomerBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011
Leanne J RobinsonBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michelle J L ScoullarBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Stefanie VaccherBurnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Margie DanchinThe University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7624-5691

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Immunisation coverage varies across Papua New Guinea (PNG), with 40% of children in East New Britain Province (ENBP) classified as zero-dose (children missing diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine first dose (DTP1)) and 55% as under-immunised (missing DTP3) in 2023. This study aimed to understand routine childhood immunisation enablers and barriers in areas of ENBP reported to have highly variable DTP1, DTP3 and measles-rubella first-dose (MR1) coverage. Methods: Qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face with caregivers of children aged 9-23 months and healthcare professionals in Gazelle and Kokopo districts. Local research officers conducted interviews in Tok Pisin and English. Data were thematically analysed and mapped across the six UNICEF Journey to Health and Immunisation framework stages. Results: 33 caregivers and 28 healthcare professionals were interviewed. Despite finding that a high proportion of caregivers' children had received DTP, DTP3 and MR1, participants identified a myriad of contextual caregiver and healthcare professional enablers and barriers to routine immunisation. Caregiver enablers included support provided by families and community-based services; barriers included limited immunisation knowledge, financial and travel challenges, and limited availability of healthcare professionals. Healthcare professional enablers included increased operational funds and working with community leaders, while barriers were focused on service delivery including costs, non-functioning aid posts and vaccine stockouts. Strategies suggested by participants for improving vaccine uptake included developing tailored immunisation communication materials, engaging community members to support routine immunisation promotion activities, and strengthening coordination between communities and healthcare professionals. Conclusions: This study highlights the challenge of identifying and including zero-dose children and their caregivers in research but still provides useful contextual focus points to enhance and inform tailored strategies to strengthen immunisation service delivery. These include strategies that improve bidirectional coordination and communication between healthcare professionals, community and religious leaders about routine immunisation, increase immunisation knowledge and strengthen community-based services for vaccine delivery.

Indexed as

Community HealthHealth PersonnelPublic HealthQualitative ResearchVaccination

Identifiers

PMID41878585
PMCPMC13007157

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.