Socio-Economic Determinants of Routine Immunization Coverage in Dutse, Jigawa State, Northern Nigeria, May 2018

Abstract

Immunization is a cost-effective public health intervention to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey of 2018 indicated that only 5.4% of children aged 12-23 months in Dutse, Jigawa State was fully immunized. The study was conducted to identify the determinants of routine immunization coverage in Dutse area of Jigawa state. The study adopted a cross-sectional method.450 children aged 12-23 months were sampled. Interviews of mothers of these children were carried out using a structured questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of immunization, vaccination status of children and reasons for non-vaccination. The study defined a fully immunized child as a child who had received one dose of BCG, three doses of the oral polio vaccine, three doses of Diptheria-Pertussis-Tetanus vaccine and one dose of measles vaccine by 12 months of age. The study performed bivariate analysis and logistic regression using Epi-info software. The findings of the study reveal that the mean age of mothers and children were 27 years (standard error (SE): 0.27 year) and 17 months (SE: 0.8 months) respectively. 79% of mothers had no formal education while 84% did not possess satisfactory knowledge of immunization. Only 7.6% of children were fully immunized. Logistic regression showed that possessing satisfactory knowledge (Adjusted OR=18.4, 95% CI=3.6-94.7) and at least second¬ary education (Adjusted OR=3.6, 95% CI=1.2-10.6) were significantly correlated with full immunization. The major determinants of immunization coverage were maternal knowledge and educational status. Raising the level of maternal knowledge and increasing maternal literacy level is essential to improve immunization coverage in this community.