Trends of inequalities in childhood immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months in Kenya, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire

Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health intervention to halt the spread of childhood
diseases, and improve child health. Yet, there is a substantial disparity in childhood immunization coverage. The
overall objective of the study is to investigate the trends of within-country inequalities in childhood immunization
coverage among children aged 12–23 months in Kenya, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The three countries included in
this study are countries that are on the verge of entering the accelerated phase of the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s
co-sharing of costs of vaccine and eventually assuming full costs of vaccines. Côte d’Ivoire is in the Gavi preparatory
transition phase, entering the accelerated transition phase in 2020, with an expected transition to full self-financing
in 2025. Ghana is expected to enter the accelerated transition phase in 2021 and to full self-financing in 2026 while
Kenya will enter in 2022 and fully self-finance in 2027.
We examine the pattern of inequality in childhood immunization coverage over time through an equity lens by
mainly exploring the direction of inequality in coverage.

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