Socio-demographic Determinants of Childhood Immunization Coverage among Mothers in Ogbaku Community, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Immunization reduces the number of vaccine-preventable diseases by attaining high levels of immunity using potent vaccines given at the right ages for children. This study examined the socio-demographic determinants of childhood immunization coverage among mothers in Ogbaku community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was adopted. 151 mothers of children aged 1-2 years were sampled. The sampling was done in multi stages involving cluster, purposive, and census sampling techniques. Data were collected from the respondents using close ended structured questionnaires.
Results: The study showed that 39.07% of the mothers use immunisation services fully, 38.41% use immunisation services partially, while 22.52% of the respondents do not utilise the immunisation services. The major constraints to utilisation of immunisation services in the community were inadequate information on immunisation (77.55%); myths that immunisation is unhealthy for the baby (51.02%); mothers’ occupation (47.96%); inadequate supply of vaccines (58.08%) and attitude of health workers (48.98%); there was no significant (p>0.05) relationship between age, marital status and mothers’ utilisation of immunisation services. However, there was a significant (p˂0.05) relationship between mothers’ educational qualification and their use of immunisation services for under-fives.
Conclusion: Vigorous campaigns to forestall the barriers to childhood immunization and proper education of the mothers will go a long way in providing solutions to the challenges of immunization.