Assessment of Routine Immunization Coverage in Nyala Locality, Reasons behind Incomplete Immunization in South Darfur State, Sudan

Mohammed Diaaeldin F.A. Omer,Elsadeg Mahgoob El-Tayeb,Ismail Tibin Adam Ismail,Kebede Deribe,El-Tayeb Ahmed El-Sayed,Yassir Mohammed Eltahir

doi:10.19026/ajms.6.5348

Abstract

Little is known about the coverage of routine immunization service in South Darfur state, Sudan. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the vaccination rate and barriers for vaccination. A cross-sectional community-based study was undertaken in Nyala locality, south Darfur, Sudan, including urban, rural and Internal Displaced Peoples (IDPs) population in proportional representation. Survey data were collected by a questionnaire which was applied face to face to parents of 213 children 12-23 months. The collected data was then analyzed with SPSS software package. Results showed that vaccination coverage as revealed by showed vaccination card alone was 63.4% while it was increased to 82.2% when both history and cards were used. Some (5.6%) of children were completely non-vaccinated. The factors contributing to the low vaccination coverage were found to be knowledge problems of mothers (51%), access problems (15%) and attitude problems (34%). Children whose mother attended antenatal care and those from urban areas were more likely to complete their immunization schedule. In conclusion, the vaccination coverage in the studied area was low compared to the national coverage. Efforts to increase vaccination converge and completion of the scheduled plan should focus on addressing concerns of caregivers particularly side effects and strengthening the Expanded Programmer on Immunization services in rural areas.

Highlights

The Expanded Programmer on Immunization (EPI) was launched in Sudan in 1976
The immunization status of the 213 children under study, the complete vaccination coverage as revealed by vaccination card alone was 63% (n = 135) fully immunized, 31% (n = 66) were partially immunized and 5.6% (n = 12) of children were not vaccinated at all in compression to the vaccination coverage by card and caregiver’s recall, remarkable increased in coverage by all antigens were found (Penta1 increased to 95%, penta3 increased to 82%, BCG increased to 77% and Measles increased to 72%)
In contrast to the state EPI report for 2009 which was based on 24,758 Children revealed that 105% of children have received penta1 followed by penta2 (101%), penta3 (87%), BCG (79%) and measles (74%) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

The Expanded Programmer on Immunization (EPI) was launched in Sudan in 1976. The first 5-year plan for the EPI was formulated in 1985. The programme has introduced the six classical EPI antigens (BCG, polio, DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis) and measles vaccines) (FMH, 2004) and recently in 2009, Pentavalent was introduced. In 1990, vaccination coverage of children under 1 year of age reached 62% for DTP3 as a national estimate (FMH, 2005). During the period 1995 to 2001 coverage was not sustained and ranged between 50 and 79%. Sudan since has strengthened its routine EPI activities with significant success; increased coverage rates, successful National Immunization Days (NIDs), strengthened disease surveillance with emphasis on Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance and improvement of the cold chain capacity and quality (WHO/UNICEF, 2008)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion