Abstract
Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitude of mothers regarding immunization of children below 5 years of age. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among mothers having children below 5 years of age. All mothers were interviewed through a self-designed pretested structured questionnaire regarding immunization of their children and socio demographic profile. Results: Majority of the mothers were illiterate, belonging to low-income group and not aware about the diseases in national immunization program. Majority (77%) of children were completely immunized according to age. The reasons for incomplete vaccination were lack of awareness, knowledge, distance, cough, cold and others reasons like household work. Anganwadi workers and health care workers were the main source of information. A positive attitude was reflected from mother towards immunization. Conclusion: The knowledge of mothers about vaccination was found inadequate but attitude toward immunization was good.
Highlights
Every year nearly 2 million children are dying before their 5th birth day [1]
Our findings revealed lack of knowledgeof mothers regarding immunization ofchild which leads to incomplete immunization status of child
Demographic Profile- In our study most of mothers did not have sufficient knowledge of immunization and it associated with lack of knowledge to mother’s education, income, age and number of children
Summary
Every year nearly 2 million children are dying before their 5th birth day [1]. In 2010 it was estimated that 1.7 million children died from vaccine preventable diseases. It was noted that 19.3 million children had been incompletely vaccinated, leaving them susceptible to vaccine preventable disease related mortality and morbidity. 50% of all under vaccinated children live in three countries, India being one of them [2,3]. Immunization is very efficient, cost effective and beneficial way to save children from many vaccine preventable diseases. WHO had launched in 1974, an expanded Program of immunization (EPI) against 6 vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity i.e. BCG, DPT, OPV, TT.
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