Factors Associated with full Immunization Coverage amongst children aged 12 – 23 months in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Zimbabwe adopted the WHO recommendations to fight childhood vaccine preventable diseases in 1980. However coverage of immunization has not been in line with the global target. This study thus utilized the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) data to analyze the variables of immunization status of children aged 12-23 months in Zimbabwe. A multivariate binary logistic regression analysis of the data was performed. The data consisted of 978 children aged 12-23 months from the selected households. Results showed that children of mothers with secondary education and above were more likely to be vaccinated than children of uneducated mothers. Children of the 1st birth order were more likely to be vaccinated than children of birth order 6+. The same positive associations were also observed with Delivery in a health facility, antenatal care visits, frequency of watching television, and wealth status. Regional variations in immunization were also established, at significant level p>0.01. These results depict the importance of socio demographic factors in full immunization and call for increased awareness programs in order to promote completion of immunization schedule.