Factors Influencing the Uptake of Immunization Services Among Under Five Year Children:

Abstract

Immunization is the process by which an individual is vaccinated such that their immune system becomes fortified with antibodies against a specific disease causing organism. Immunization is a proven tool in the control, management and elimination of life threatening infectious disease and it is estimated to avert 2-3 million deaths every year. Immunization is a very effective health investment with proven strategies that can make disease prevention accessible to the most hard- to-reach areas and vulnerable populations and a channel for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal number four of reducing child mortality. Despite this, the number of immunizible disease out breaks with in refugee camps including Nakivale refugee camp in South-Western Uganda remains a big challenge. A cross-sectional study involving 383 respondents was conducted in Nakivale camp involving both children and their care-takers or parents. Although the majority of the children who were involved in the study 88% were found to have been immunized, the proportion of children who were not immunized was also high at 12%. Socio-economic factors family economic status could increase the likelihood of children being immunized by increasing access to information and immunization services. Therefore, children from economically stable families are more likely to be immunized than those from poor families. The major health facility factors hindering the uptake of immunization services within Nakivale camp are issues to do with accessibility to and affordability of the immunization services such as availability of immunization center within the camp and the number of such center in a given camp.