CONCURRENT EVALUATION OF IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM BY LOT QUALITY ASSURANCE SAMPLING

The current EPI methodology for identifying immunization coverage is s imple and easy to carry out under field conditions and gives a good id ea about immunization coverage, However, it is not useful for local ma nagers, It does not identify small health units with poor performance. Information on performance at the local level is vital to enhance ove rall immunization coverage. Estimation of coverage on a small area bas is can be made by Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS). LQAS was used in nine subcentres of district Saharanpur. The methodology was found to be feasible and identified seven sub-centres with poor current perf ormance. Although LQAS may not be a good substitute for current EPI me thodology to evaluate immunization coverage in a large administrative area, it is suggested that LQAS is a useful additional method for rout ine monitoring and evaluation of health programmes on a small area bas is, especially as the overall coverage increases.