FACTORS INFLUENCING IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AMONG CHILDREN AGED 0-5 YEARS IN LIKUYANI SUB-COUNTY

Abstract

Background: Immunization, a form of primary prevention is one of the major public health interventions to avoid childhood illnesses and mortality. In order to prevent such immunization programs were put in place at early age in order to protect children from the illness such as polio, Diptheria, whooping cough, Tetanus, Measles, yellow fever, Rota virus, Pneumoccocal all these have higher mortality rate when they aren’t prevented at early age. The aim of the research was to determine how factors such as level of knowledge of parents/guardians on immunization, their practices and utilization of immunization and finally challenges they face their role in resulting to low immunization coverage in Likuyani Subcounty, once loophole was found mitigations to fill the gap was recommended and implementation was carried on. This study was also to help future researchers in developing, implementing and evaluating interventions. Methods: A cross sectional population study was undertaken in 74 partcipants, which included parents/ guardians of children aged 0-5 years, who voluntarily participated, Simple random sampling was used to select respondents. Data was collected using structured questionnaires with both open and close ended questions through house-house visits and analyzed. Summary tables, frequency tables, charts, graphs, and other visual representation of data was used to present the information collected. Prevalence odds ratio was used to establish association of independent variables that is Level of knowledge of parents/guardians, their practicesmand utilization and challenges they face with immunization coverage. Ethics, confidentiality and freedom of participation was observed thoughtout data collection. Results: 64.9% had primary level education, majority of which contributed to a low level of knowledge, 8.1% knew nothing about the importance of vaccination an 77% reported to get information from healthcare professionals. 20.3% of all respondents knew nothing about side effects of immunization, 70.2% were not sure, 20.3% reported to have never discuss about immunization with healthcare professional and 52.7% reported to sometimes discuss. 56.8% reported to have faced challenges for vaccination.This challenges included financial constraints due to far away health centres and negative perception and social cultural beliefs towards immunization. Conclussion: Level of education of almost of guardians/parents was primary, contributing to little or no knowledge about immunization, healthcare professionals within the study area were found to have played their role in educating and sensitization, negative social , cultural and beliefs also contributed to low immunization coverage, finally challenges such as financial constraints, fear on safety of immunization were found to play a vital role. The interplay of each factor independently or both resulted in either delayed vaccination or child missing vaccines.