Assessments of Effectiveness of Technologies Utilizations in VIHSCM Among Selected Health Facilities in Tanzania Mainland

Introduction Tanzania has adopted various technologies for Vaccine and Immunization Health Supply Chain Management to improve the availability, access, and utilization of immunization programs. However, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of the technologies in Vaccine and Immunization Health Supply Chain Management. This study assesses the effectiveness of technology on vaccine and immunization supply chain management in selected health facilities in Tanzania. Methods This study adopted an exploratory descriptive cross-sectional design. The study collected data using structured questionnaires from health facilities that adopted VIHSCM technologies in Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya regions, Tanzania. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations with the aid of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences 23rd Edition (SPSS). Results The study findings showed that 56.7% of the surveyed Health facilities had either TiMR, DHIS2, or GOTHOMIS technology used for vaccine and immunization supply chain management. The study shows that 51.4% of respondents at health facilities agreed that the adopted technologies were very effective, 45.9% were moderately effective and 2.7% said the technologies were less effective. The results asserted that 18.9 % of the adopted technologies were effective in the Management of immunization services, 37.8 % asserted that technology utilizations have Increased access to the vaccine, 2.7% said that technology utilizations assisted in monitoring vaccine temperature, 24.3% said that technologies utilizations assisted in vaccines at their respective health facilities, 5.4 % said that technologies utilizations assisted in the Maintaining the quality of Vaccines. Conclusion This study concluded that technology plays a substantial role in improving the availability and quality of vaccines and immunization services in health facilities. Also, the study suggested that increase the use of technologies to capitalize the VIHSCM effectiveness. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The authors declare that was funded by UR, East African C Regional Center of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization, and Health Supply Chain Management through the Research Grant Schemes. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethical clearance was obtained from the National Institute for Medical Research. The research was also approved by Mzumbe University. Permission to conduct research in the relevant institutions were obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG). Participants were given consent form describing the purpose of the study and their position to participate or terminate its participation even during the interview. Only consented participants were interviewed. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. * ### List of Abbreviation RCH : Reproductive and Child Health RTM : Remote Temperature Monitoring GoTHoMIS : Government of Tanzania Health Operation Management Information System TImR : Electronic Immunization Registry VIHSCM : Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management VIMS : Vaccine Information Management System UNICEF : United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund