Immunization coverage in children of 12-23 months of age group in rural field practice areas of medical college, Visnagar, Gujarat, India: a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Immunization plays a vital role in reducing childhood morbidity and mortality and higher coverage rates are needed to maintain the expected benefits. The objective was to assess immunization coverage in children of 12-23 months of age group in rural field practice areas of medical college, Visnagar, Gujarat, India.Methods: Using the purposive sampling method, a cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in rural field practice areas of Nootan medical college and research center, Visnagar during June-December 2021. All 212 children of 12-23 months age group of the areas were included after taking verbal informed consent of their parents or guardians. Vaccination status of the children was verified using the Mamta card (immunization card). In conditions where the Mamta card was not available, the mother/parents were asked about the site of vaccinations to confirm the vaccines being given. Analysis of study was done by using appropriate statistical software.Results: Total 1934 households were surveyed. There were 223 children in the 12-23 months age group. Mamta card or immunization record was available with 175 (78.5%) mothers of 12-23 months age group of children. Maximum coverage was seen for BCG (95.5%) followed by pentavalent/RVV/OPV first dose (93.3%). Measles-rubella (MR) 1st dose coverage was 89.2%. Overall, 86.5% of the children in the 12-23 months age group were fully immunized while only 5 children were unimmunized. Dropout rate proportion for pentavalent 1st dose to pentavalent 3rd dose was 2.46% while for pentavalent first dose to MR was 4.39%.Conclusions: Full immunization coverage in children of 12-23 months of age group in rural field practice areas of medical college, Visnagar was 86.8%.