IJCM_224A: Routine Immunization coverage in less than 2 years residing in the filed practice area of a Medical college, Dharwad, Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Immunization is the process whereby a person is offered protection from or is made resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Immunization is most successful and cost-effective public health interventions which averts about 3 million deaths annually. According to (NFHS) 4, children in the age group of 12 to 23 months who were fully immunized with BCG, measles, and 3 doses each of polio and DPT was 62.0% at the national level and 62.6% for Karnataka. Objective: The present study is an attempt to know the factors influencing the coverage of immunization in children between 12 -23 months who are residing in the field practice areas of the department of Community Medicine of SDMCMSH, Dharwad Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 91 rural children and 134 urban children between age group 12-23 months under field practice area of SDMCMSH, Dharwad Results: Out of 225 children studied, 134 from urban setting 74.6% were fully immunized. 91 from rural setting 89% were fully immunized. While un complete immunization coverage in urban and rural is 25.4% and 11% respectively Furthermore it was observed that factors like number of ANC visits the mother had, gender of the child, distance of the immunization center from the home, and educational level of the parents did not significantly influence the immunization status. Conclusion: We conclude from our study that the complete immunization coverage is 74.6% in the urban setting and in rural setting complete immunization coverage is 89%.