Pakistan Research Project
Winner: Rubina Qasim, Acting nursing director at Dow Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi, PakistanBio: Rubina Qasim, RN/RM, BScN, MSc, is working as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Nursing & Midwifery, Dow University of Health Sciences located in Karachi, Pakistan.Rubina has more than 10 years of teaching and research experience in both public and private sector academic institutions in Pakistan. Her area of research is maternal and child health including routine immunization, and vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among marginalized hard-to-reach populations. She is leading a team of research staff including volunteer undergraduate nursing students, working for the health and social uplifting of the marginalized population living in the peri-urban slum Karachi, Pakistan. Rubina has authored several papers published in peer reviewed journals and she has secured several research and training grants generating useful evidence to improve health of the marginalized population, adress health inequity and promote nursing research in Pakistan. https://www.vaccineacceptance.org/people/rubina-qasim-msc/ https://www1.duhs.edu.pk/faculty-profile/rubina-qasim Project: Mapping determinants impacting immunization and co-designing contextual intervention to reach zero-dose children of highly marginalized populations living in peri-urban slums of Karachi and Peshawar, PakistanThis research project aims to address the critical issue of zero-dose children (those lacking DTP-containing vaccines) in highly marginalized populations residing in peri-urban slums of Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan. The primary objectives involve measuring the prevalence of zero-dose children, identifying social and behavioural drivers using the BeSD framework, and co-designing acceptable and feasible contextual interventions. The research responds to the global interest in reaching zero-dose children, particularly in countries like Pakistan where a significant proportion is concentrated. While national estimates exist, there is a lack of granular information about these children, their risk factors, and the factors influencing vaccine acceptance. The study emphasizes the importance of co-designing interventions involving end-users and stakeholders for better acceptance, sustainability, and addressing social and behavioural determinants to build trust in vaccines. |