Factors Influencing Completion Of Immunization Of Children Under 5 Years Of Age In Kal Parish Lamwo District

Abstract

Background: Immunization is generally considered the most successful and cost-effective public health intervention employed today (CDC, 2011). The widespread use of vaccines for immunization, has resulted in the global eradication of smallpox, elimination of polio and measles from many countries. Coverage with the third dose of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT3) is a widely used indicator of the performance of countries‟ routine immunization services. In Uganda WHO /UNICEF, 2014 estimated that immunization coverage at on DPT 3 was only 52%. DPT vaccine is given by injection on the left upper thigh at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks. Various approaches have been applied to understand immunization coverage problems.

Objective: The purpose of study was to establish the factors influencing completion of immunization of children under 5 years of age in Kal Parish, Lamwo District between March to August 2018

Methods: This research essentially took on a descriptive cross sectional survey design. In this study the target population was study caretakers of children aged below five years 203 caretakers of children aged below five years in selected households in households Kal Parish, Lamwo District. Respondents were recruited using the probability simple random after mapping it gives all the household equal chance to participate. The researcher chose to use, structured interviews to collect the required data from the study respondents. The structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents and data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: From the data analyzed, the level of completion of was moderate at 60.1%. Age, child‟s gender. Awareness of the diseases, cultural beliefs, place of delivery, distance to the immunization facility, accessibility of immunization and ANC attendance were independently significantly associated with completion of immunization schedules

Conclusions and Recommendations: In conclusion, this study revealed that the immunization completion rate was moderate. Therefore the study recommends increased awareness concerning delivery at health facilities should also be created among the community as this is associated with higher likelihood of childhood immunization and health facility that provide EPI services should strengthening of continuous staff motivation, regular supervision