Abstract
Introduction: Immunization programme has been a major cost-effective public health intervention for child survival. Despite implementation of immunization programme since 1978 by Govt of India (GOI), the coverage of immunization is not satisfactory due to various socio economic factors influencing vaccination coverage. Aim: To determine the coverage and to identify the various factors influencing primary immunization in children. Methods: Hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from January 2012 to September 2013 by interviewing parents of 2000 children of 1-2 yr age attending OPD and Children`s ward in Govt General Hospital, Kakinada, AP. Socio demographic factors and details of immunization status of the children and the reasons for dropouts were noted. The child who received all primary doses of BCG, DPT, Hepatitis B, OPV and Measles mentioned in National immunization schedule is considered fully immunised. Child who missed even a single dose and who did not receive even a single dose of any vaccine is considered partially immunised and un-immunised respectively. Percentages and Chi square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Overall, 1810 were fully immunised (90.5%), 186 were partially immunised (9.3%) and 4 were unimmunised. Type of family and education of parents had a significant role in the immunization coverage of children whereas gender, religion and residence of children were not found to have significant impact on immunization status. Unwell child, lack of knowledge and migration to other places were found to be major contributing factors for poor immunization. Conclusion: Regular health education of all sections of the community especially the mothers to increase awareness of childhood immunization and addressing the issues of dropouts and poor accessibility is urgently required for better and equitable coverage of across all regions of the country.
Highlights
Immunization programme has been a major cost-effective public health intervention for child survival
Our study showed that gender of the child, religion and residence of children had no significant role to play in the status of immunization coverage whereas type of family and education of parents had a significant role to play in the immunization coverage
Immunization coverage is almost equal in children from rural and urban areas and is not statistically significant
Summary
Immunization programme has been a major cost-effective public health intervention for child survival. Despite implementation of immunization programme since 1978 by Govt of India (GOI), the coverage of immunization is not satisfactory due to various socio economic factors influencing vaccination coverage. About 1⁄4th of Under 5 mortality is due to vaccine preventable diseases [1] Keeping this in mind GOI launched Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) in 1978 and made it mandatory that all children should be immunised. Later in 1985, the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) was launched in India to protect all infants (0-12 mo) against 6 serious but preventable diseases, namely tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles. The objective of this programme was to fully vaccinate atleast 85% of all infants. The goal of UIP was raised to ensure 100% coverage of all eligible children with one dose of BCG, 3 doses of DPT and OPV and one dose of measles vaccine
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