Assessment of Vaccination Status and Associated Factors Among 9 to 12 Months Children in Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Immunization coverage is one of the indicators used to monitor progress towards the reduction of child morbidity and mortality, as it is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions(1). However many children around the world especially in developing countries like our country Ethiopia still remain incomplete or unvaccinated. For instance; as Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2011 shows fully vaccination coverage in urban and rural settings was 48.2% and 20.4%, respectively(2). Likewise the programmatic report on immunization of Adama town 2014/15 shows out of total targets 10,927 under one year age children 7867(72%) fully vaccinated; relatively lower achievement. Therefore this research designed for validation of the programmatic report by using scientific study and identifying factors associated with vaccination status of children at the target age, in each sampled kebeles, census of study population done to develop sampling frame. Objectives: This study was designed to assess the vaccination status and associated factors among 9 to 12 months children in Adama town, Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from March to July. Mixed probability sampling technique (stratified random sampling, probability proportion to size and simple random sampling) were used at various stages of sampling to include 456 care takers of children 9-12 months. Data were collected within structured and pre tested questionnaire, entered into Epi.info version7 and analyzed using the statistical products and service solution (SPSS) version 21 computer software. Both descriptive and analytical methods were used to report the result. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were executed using binary logistic regression. To determine significance of association 95% confidence level was used. Results: from the planned sample, 437(96% response rate) of primary care takers of children age 9-12 months were included in the study of which 417(95%) were confirmed to complete routine vaccination. Using multivariate logistic regression models, factors significantly associated with complete immunization were age the child should complete vaccination (adjusted odd ratio [AOR], 16.2; 95% CI: 4.2-62.0) and health education given by health workers about vaccination (AOR, 3.2; 95% CI: 1.2-8.7), whereas parents/caretakers socio-demographic characteristics and the rest were not significantly associated with full immunization among children 9-12months. Conclusion and recommendation: fully vaccination status is higher than what is being reported by Adama town health office and factors significantly associated with the vaccination status in study setting are; at which age the child should complete vaccination and health education given by the health workers about vaccination. The town health office and health workers should be strengthened to raising awareness of the community on the benefit and about vaccine preventable diseases, which is also used to ensure quality of vaccination services. Funding Statement: There is no source of fund for this study. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. Ethics Approval Statement: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by Ethical review committee of Oromia regional health bureau. Also permission to undertake the study was obtained from every relevant authority in the town including Adama town health office. Verbal informed consent was obtained from the participants prior to participation in the study.