| dc.description.abstract | Introduction:
In Uganda, routine immunization coverage for dipthera-pertusis and tetanus (DPT),Measles and poliomelities (polio) for children of ages below 12 months averages.
Fully immunized” is the term used to describe a child less than 12 months old who received one dose of BCG, one dose of Measles, and three doses of DPT/OPV before his/her first birthday. This program is important because completing the immunization schedule helps a child to get adequate protection from all the immunizable diseases.
Objective:
To assess the determinants for DPT3 completion among children below one year in Busolwe town council Butaleja district.
Methodology:
Across-sectional study involving 265 mothers/care takers of children below one year in Busolwe Town council sampled using stratified simple random sampling was conducted. Data on characteristics of both mother/care takers and children below below year, social, cultural and health care related factors were obtained structured researcher administered questionnaire and analysed using a binary logistic regression model.
Results:
DPT3 completion at Busolwe town council is low (74.5%) age of mothers /care takers influenced DPT3 completion where by the respondents between 36-41years were 2.4times more likely to have their children immunised compared those in 15-21 age group.
the 5th and above birth order born children were 2.4 times more likely to have their children immunized compared to the 1st and 2nd birth order. irregular vaccine stock levels also influenced DPT3 completion(No vaccine OR:2.0,CI=0.1-0.9and p=0.039).
Conclusion and Recommendations:
The determinants for DPT3 completion were identified characteristics of the mothers /care takers of children below one year such as Age of the mothers/caretakers where by the respondents between 36-41years were 2.4 times more likely to have their children immunized compared those in 15-21 age group. In addition to that, birth order was found to be a determinant of DPT3 completion whereby 4th born and above child birth order were 2.4 times more likely to complete DPT3 immunization schedule, as compared to the 1st and 2nd born birth orders. The study revealed that both characteristics of the children below one year and socio cultural factors did not significantly determine DPT3 completion. However among the health care related factors that influence DPT3 completion among children below one year is availability of vaccines at the health facilities, among the children that had not completed DPT3 were children of mothers /care takers that reported sock out of vaccines at the health facilities No vaccine OR:2.0,CI=0.1-0.9and p=0.039). There fore, Butaleja district local government should target young mothers between 15-21years and sensitize them on the importance of DPT3 completion and also target new mothers during the immunization campaigns so that they get know the importance of completing DPT3. the district health office should streamline the mode of delivery of vaccines to lower health units ensuring constant cold chain maintenance . Order of birth, place of birth, and level of family income, vaccine stock out and age of the mother are significant determinants of DPT3 completion. Butaleja District health office should design ways of sensitizing parents about the importance of completing the immunization schedule. Butaleja district local leaders should come up with education programmes and bi-laws geared towards ensuring that girl child education is strengthened. | en_US |
