Improving vaccination coverage in rural areas using community health workers and digital health tools
Official title: "Chanjo Kwa Wakati" - Leveraging community health workers and a responsive digital health system to improve vaccination coverage and timeliness in rural settings
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-10910017 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help more kids in rural areas get their vaccinations on time by using community health workers and a helpful digital system that sends reminders and offers small rewards, especially since the pandemic made it harder for families to access vaccines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $574,413 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD110844-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910017 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 11 living in rural areas with low vaccination coverage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already fully vaccinated or those living in urban areas with adequate healthcare access may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance vaccination rates among children in rural settings by leveraging community health workers and a responsive digital health system. It addresses the barriers to vaccination, such as low caregiver knowledge and access issues, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The approach includes mobile phone reminders and financial incentives to encourage timely vaccinations. By building on previous successful interventions, the project seeks to create a sustainable model for improving childhood vaccination coverage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase vaccination rates and protect children from preventable diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown success in using mobile health interventions and community health workers to improve vaccination rates, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ostermann, Jan — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Ostermann, Jan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.