Compliance And Factors Influencing Routine Immunization Of Under-Fives As Per Schedule At Kawaala Hc Iv, Kampala District.

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood immunization is one of the most important public health interventions that have proved to reduce child morbidity and mortality. However, although children receive immunization free of charge, the immunization status in Uganda has not been adequate and yet reaching all children with full immunization services as per schedule, is critical to meeting Uganda‟s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Study Objective: This study sought to determine the compliance and the factors influencing routine immunization among the under- fives as per schedule at Kawaala HC IV, Kampala district in December 2023. Methods: A descriptive research design was used to study 174 caretakers and 5 key informants who were selected using a simple-random sampling technique and a purposeful sampling technique respectively. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and key informant interview guide and analyzed using STATA version 18 statistical software. Qualitative data was analyzed manually using thematic analysis to develop themes and codes. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify the compliance and factors influencing compliance with childhood immunization as per schedule. The results were presented in form of tables and figures. Results: The findings revealed that there was a 78.7% overall compliance to the routine immunization as per schedule at Kawaala Health Centre IV with only 37 caretakers found non-compliant as per the age of their children. However, there was 100% compliance at birth and at 6 weeks with decreasing compliance to the subsequent immunizations. The factors that were found to be statistically significant with compliance at multivariate analysis included the child‟s age with a P value of 0.000 (AOR =73.017, 95% CI: 10.629 – 501.610), child‟s birth order p value of 0.042* (AOR =3.219, 95% CI: 1.042 – 9.948),caretaker‟s education level with a P value of 0.025 (AOR = 45.125, 95% CI: 1.632 – 1247.818), and perceived availability of health workers at the immunization clinic with a P value of 0.022 (AOR = 0.210, 95% CI: 0.055 – 0.798). Recommendations: Kawaala HC IV administration should ensure an adequate staffing capacity that aligns with the clientele demand and design streamlined workflows within the immunization clinic to minimize caretakers‟ waiting times. In addition, health workers should improve the training and educating of caretakers on compliance to the routine immunization schedule and increase on community outreaches or else the noble objective of immunizing for the health and well-being of the younger population through free national wide immunization programs remains at stake