An Appraisal of Routine Immunization Coverage Among Children 0-2 Years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State

Abstract

Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenza type b (HIB), Diphtheria, Pertusis, Tetanus and Hepatitis B, neonatal tetanus yellow fever, measles, cerebrospinal meningitis and is estimated to avert between 2 and 3 million deaths each year. The objective of this study is to appraise routine immunization coverage among children 0-2 years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, designed to appraise routine immunization coverage among children 0-2 years in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. The study focused on children 0-2 years. Majority 102 (25.2%) of the respondents were within the age range of 25-29 years, 82 (20.5%) were >39 years. 314 (78.5%) were Yorubas. 385 (96.2%) had good knowledge while 15 (3.8%) had poor knowledge. 374 (93.5%) of the women have positive attitude while 26 (6.5%) of them have negative attitude. Most of the respondents, 391 (97.8%) of the respondents reported that they have taken their child to the health facility for immunization and 232 (58%) have taken their child to 4-5 immunization sessions. Based on the findings of the present study, it could be concluded that very few of the women had poor knowledge of childhood immunization, majority of the women had positive attitude score and practice of childhood immunization, practice of childhood immunization is quite high, and the uptake of childhood immunization is quite high.