Predictors for uptake of tetanus toxoid vaccination during pregnancy among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: an analysis of data from the 2015-16 Tanzania demographic and health survey and malaria indicators survey

Abstract

Uptake of TT vaccine among pregnant women is still low in Tanzania, although Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC) recommend all women to receive at least five TT doses in their reproductive life and at least two doses during pregnancy. Little is known about the predictors of TT uptake during pregnancy among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictors for uptake of TT among pregnant women using 2015-2016 data from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicators Survey (TDHS-MIS). A total of 6924 women of reproductive age from 15 to 49 were included in the analysis. Both univariate and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of TT uptake during pregnancy among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. The results show that more than half, 3480 (50.3%) of the study population had either no or one tetanus injection. A total of 3444 (49.7%) had two or more tetanus injection during pregnancy. After adjusted for confounders, predictors of uptake of tetanus vaccination were early antenatal booking (AOR=1.174, CI=1.033-1.335, p=0.014), age between 20 to 34 years (AOR=1.433, CI= 1.155-1.778, p=0.001), age >34 years (AOR=1.379, CI=1.065-1.786, p=0.015), rich (AOR=1.261, CI=1.083-1.468, p = 0.003), para 2 - 4 (AOR=0.401, CI=0.343-0.468, p<0.001), para 5 and above (AOR=0.217, CI=0.178-0.265, p<0.001), having primary education, (AOR=0.864 at 95% CI=0.754-0.99, p=0.035), Unguja (AOR=0.434, CI=0.309-0.609, p<0.001), Pemba (AOR=0.34, CI=0.226-0.512, p<0.001) and adequate ANC visits (AOR=0.649, CI=0.582-0.723, p<0.001). In conclusion, based on the findings of the study, more efforts are need to be increased to ensure young women are mobilized to attend to reproductive and child health clinics for TT vaccination, especially on early ANC booking, and the government should find ways to ensure TT vaccination is accessed to all WRA irrespective of their socioeconomic status.