Factors Affecting Immunization Status of Children under 5 years in Kadungulu sub-county, Serere district.

Abstract

Introduction: Immunization is a lifesaving and cost effective medical intervention that reduces childhood morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable disease. Objective: This study sought to investigate factors affecting immunization status of children under 5 years in Kadungulu sub-county, Serere District, To determine the knowledge level of mothers/care takers as a factor affecting immunization ,To find out the socio-economic factors affecting immunization status of children and to establish the health system factors affecting immunization status of children under 5 years in Kadungulu Sub-County. Method: The researcher used a cross sectional research design. A total of 111 participants were purposefully selected to take part in the study. Simple random sampling was also used to select the required number of women with children under 5 years in Kadungulu Sub-County, Serere district. Questionnaires were administered to the mothers/ care takers while the interviews were conducted with the key informants that included health workers. Quantitative data collected from the field were cleaned, edited, coded and later entered in SPSS software version 20 to generate frequency tables and graphs that was used to interpret the findings. Results: The results indicate among the factors affecting immunization status of children under five years in Kadungululu are: mothers’ perception that vaccines for pneumonia and measles are given at birth, vaccines are given to prevent against malaria, place of delivery; child’s birth order, occupation of care takers/mothers spouse, source of information on immunization and ability to obtain the vaccine as scheduled had significant effect on completion of immunization among children under five years of age in Kadungulu Sub-county, Serere District. Distance to the immunization center, mothers level of education, marital status and waiting time for vaccination did not seem to have any significant effect on immunization completion of children under five years. Conclusion: The study concludes that, immunization is the powerful and cost effective weapon against vaccine preventable diseases. Thus, vaccination activity should not be an end in itself but should lead to immunity against a particular disease and reduction in morbidity and mortality. Recommendation: The district health department should endevour to sensitize parents about the importance of completing the immunizations as scheduled. Income generating activities such as home industries like hand crafts making, home gardening, and animal raring should be encouraged to improve the economic condition at these households.