Determinants of complete immunizations coverage among children aged 12–23 months in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective measures adopted to prevent major deadly childhood diseases globally. Worldwide, the uptake of routine childhood vaccination has the propensity to prevent about 1.5 million annual deaths among children. This study examined the determinants of complete immunization coverage among children aged 12–23 months in Papua New Guinea. Methods The study was based on data from the 2016–18 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. Information on 709 children aged 12–23 months was extracted from the children’s files. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to assess the factors associated with complete immunisation coverage and statistical significance was pegged at p Results Complete immunization coverage was 39%. The odds of complete immunization was higher among children whose mothers had primary [AOR = 2.272, CI = 1.310, 3.941], secondary [AOR = 2.536, CI = 1.303, 4.937], and higher levels of education [AOR = 2.855, CI = 1.051, 7.750], compared to children whose mothers had no formal education. Children whose mothers were in the richest wealth quintile [AOR = 2.394, CI = 1.137, 5.038] had higher odds of receiving complete vaccination, compared to those whose mothers were in the poorest wealth quintile. Children whose mothers were married [AOR = 1.696, CI = 1.113, 2.587] had higher odds of receiving complete vaccination, compared to those whose mothers were cohabiting. Finally, children whose mothers attended postnatal check-up visits [AOR = 2.366, CI = 1.654, 3.385] had higher odds of receiving complete vaccination, compared to those whose mothers did not attend postnatal check-up visits. Conclusion Complete immunization coverage in Papua New Guinea is relatively low. Mothers’ educational level, wealth quintile, marital status, and postnatal care attendance play significant roles in the complete immunization of children aged 12–23 months in Papua New Guinea. This suggests that interventions such as health education and service expansion on immunization should be implemented, taking into consideration these factors.