Abstract

Background: Urban Primary Health Centers (UPHCs) have been the backbone for delivering immunization services in urban areas in India. It is thereby important that cold chain system is maintained at these UPHCs.

Objective: To assess the cold chain management system at all UPHCs of Vadodara city in western India.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at all 19 UPHCs of Vadodara city run by Vadodara Municipal Corporation. All 19 UPHCs of the entire Vadodara city were assessed for cold chain management system from April 2013 to May 2014. Data collection was done as a part of supportive supervision of Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health plus Adolescents (RMNCH+A) program by using structured checklist. Data were entered in Microsoft Office Excel and analyzed using Epi Info software. Descriptive statistics including actual numbers and proportions of the study variables are mentioned.

Result: Cold chain equipments including ice-lined refrigerator (ILR) and deep freezer (DF) were functional at all 19 UPHCs. No other vaccines/medicines were stored in ILR or DF in any center. Ice packs were correctly placed at five centers only. Frozen vaccine vial was observed at one site.

Conclusion: Cold chain was maintained quite satisfactorily at all the UPHCs of the Vadodara city. However, some logistics and training of cold chain handler needs to be focused as highlighted in the study.

Key words: Cold chain, assessment, UPHC, Vadodara, India