IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 12-23 MONTHS IN GURSUM DISTRICT, FAAFAN ZONE, SOMALI NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Background: Immunization is reported to be the most efficient and cost effective in reducing the burden of infectious diseases. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 1.9million of the 2.5million (76%) vaccine preventable worldwide deaths among children aged less than five years occurred in Africa or South East Asia. Vaccination prevents an estimated 2.5 million deaths each year. Routine immunization coverage has not reached the target figures and realized the planned objectives in Ethiopia including the study area. However, little is known about immunization coverage and associated factors among immunization eligible children in low-income countries like Ethiopia. Materials and methods: A community based cross-sectional study design supplemented with qualitative inquiry was used. A total of randomly selected 344 children aged 12-23 months along with their mothers from the selected kebeles were included in the study. Data entry was done using EPI Info version 3.5.1 computer software and exported to SPSS version 16 for further analysis. Data were analyzed using bivariable logistic regression along with 95%Ci to identify independent factors associated with immunization coverage. Odds ratio along with 95%CI was estimated to control for all possible confounders using multivariable logistic regression. Level of statistical significance was decleared at p- value less than 0.05. Results: Out of 344 children aged 12-23 months selected for this study, 78.8% of them were ever taken one or more of the eight recommended vaccine and 21.2% were unvaccinated. Also, 34.6% children were fully vaccinated and 44.2% of them took one or more vaccine but did not finish the recommended doses. Immunization coverge was significantly associated with being male [AOR = 1.787 (95% CI = 1.08, 2.97)], family size [AOR = 2.602 (95% CI = 1.526, 4.437)], antenatal care attendance [AOR = 1.930 (95% CI = 1.106, 3.370)] and knowledge of mothers [AOR = 3.544 (95% CI = 2.130, 5.896)]. Conclusion and recommendation: Immunization coverage in the study area is low. Most children were ever taken one or more of the eight recommended vaccine the Immunization status of fully vaccinated children in the woreda is very low as compared to the national coverage. The qualitative result showed bad attitude and lack of anti pyretics for side effect treatment were part of the main reason for not immunizing as well as defaulting. The Regional Health Bureau with the Woreda health office should establish and promote an extensive health education programme to raise the level of awareness by designing proper strategy targeting the mothers/caretakers on benefit of immunization