Effectiveness of Community Health Worker Programmes on Immunization Rates in Zimbabwean Rural Areas: A Protocol Study

Immunization rates in rural Zimbabwean areas are often lower than those in urban settings due to various socio-economic factors. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, including quantitative data collection through surveys and administrative records, supplemented by qualitative interviews with CHWs and community members to understand programme implementation and impact. Initial findings suggest a significant increase in immunization rates among children under five years old (65% vs. 40%) where CHW programmes are implemented compared to non-CHW areas. The qualitative data complements these quantitative results, highlighting the importance of community engagement and trust-building as key factors for successful CHW programmes in rural settings. Investment in training and support for CHWs is recommended alongside continued monitoring and evaluation to sustain improvements in immunization rates. Community Health Worker Programmes, Immunization Rates, Rural Areas, Zimbabwe Treatment effect was estimated with logit (pᵢ) =₀+^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.