Abstract
Background: Despite a dramatic reduction in disease burden of vaccine-preventable diseases through childhood immunization, vaccine coverage is not satisfactory even in urban slums. We need considerable efforts to ensure adequate vaccine coverage to control morbidity and mortality. Objective: To assess the immunization coverage in an urban slum area and determine various socio-demographic factors affecting the vaccination coverage. Material and Methods: It is a cross sectional random sample study. Parents of children upto the age of 5 years were interviewed at their homes and vaccination centers. Total 1514 cases were included in this study. Results: Approximately 58.9% of the children were fully vaccinated, 23% children were partially vaccinated and 18.2% children were unvaccinated. The full vaccination rate increased with lower birth order, education level of the parents, socioeconomic status of family and hospital delivery. Conclusion: Children from higher economic or educational groups had better vaccination coverage. Not known of exact date of vaccination is most important factor for poor vaccination coverage. Lack of time, distance and nobody at home were the other factors having negative impact.
Highlights
Survival is the biggest challenge for children younger than five years old, especially for those under one year This become more challenging again, if children belong to underprivileged sectors especially slums
3 million children die each year of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) with a disproportionate number of these children residing in developing countries [4]
Help of local aganwadi workers were taken for the confirmation of vaccination while visiting those areas covered by ICDS
Summary
Survival is the biggest challenge for children younger than five years old, especially for those under one year This become more challenging again, if children belong to underprivileged sectors especially slums. Immunization is definitely one of the most effective and cost effective ways of protecting the health of infants and children worldwide against few most lethal and debilitating diseases. Immunization is one of the greatest public health achievements of 20th century, but for effective immunization effect, population coverage levels of particular vaccine should be between 90 to 95% [2]. 3 million children die each year of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) with a disproportionate number of these children residing in developing countries [4]. Despite a dramatic reduction in disease burden of vaccine-preventable diseases through childhood immunization, vaccine coverage is not satisfactory even in urban slums. Objective: To assess the immunization coverage in an urban slum area and determine various socio-demographic factors affecting the vaccination coverage. Distance and nobody at home were the other factors having negative impact
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