Exploring digital tools in promoting anti-rabies and DHLPP vaccine uptake at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan: A pilot study

Use of digital tools in promoting vaccination uptake

Abstract

Digital tools have found applications in various fields including health promotion. Rabies, Canine
Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza (DHLPP) cause morbidity and
mortality in dogs and are vaccine-preventable. We deployed digital tools in community sensitization and awareness campaigns on anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and DHLPP vaccination. We also assessed its effects on the uptake at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Ibadan, Nigeria from November 2023 to February 2024. A retrospective and a quasi-experimental study designs were adopted.

A review of ARV and DHLPP vaccination records from 2020 to 2023 was conducted. Social media platforms and websites were deployed in the vaccination campaign for three months. Online metrics and vaccine uptake were monitored. Monthly records of ARV and DHLPP vaccinations before and during the vaccination campaign were compared and correlated with the digital metrics. Data were analyzed at a 5% significant level.

The highest annual total ARV and DHLPP vaccine uptake was in 2022. The ARV uptake increased from 16 to 48, while DHLPP decreased from 47 to 31. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) monthly ARV uptake from January to October 2023 increased non-significantly from 27.3 ± 9.5 to 31.3 ± 14.5 during the vaccination campaign; while DHLPP uptake increased significantly (p = 0.013) from 25.7 ± 6.2 to 40.0 ± 6.6 during the same period. There was a positive correlation between Facebook reach and ARV uptake (r = 0.94), page views and DHLPP uptake (r = 0.90), and unique visitors and DHLPP uptake (r = 0.99).

Digital tools contribute to ARV and DHLPP vaccination uptake at the VTH, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Long-term digital effect studies on vaccine uptake and institution-based online presence are recommended.