SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF SUCESSIVE POLIO AND PENTAVALENT VACCINES UTILISATION AMONG UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN GHANA

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the factors that influence the utilisation of the successive doses of Polio and Pentavalent Vaccines among underfive children in Ghana. Method: The study used data from a cross sectional survey in the form of the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey which was carried out between early September and mid-December, 2014. The Probit model was the empirical model of estimation. Results: Among other findings, the study revealed that the region of residence influenced the utilisation of the initial and successive doses of both polio and pentavalent vaccines. Also rising birth order of the child was revealed to negatively influence the utilisation of all the doses of the polio and pentavalent vaccines. In addition, rising age of the household head was found to decrease the utilisation of the 3rd dose of the polio vaccine and the 2nd and 3rd doses of the pentavalent vaccine. Single mothers were also revealed to be less likely to utilise the 3rd dose of both vaccines for their children. Moreover, employed mothers were found to be more likely to utilise all the subsequent doses of both the pentavalent and polio vaccines for their children whiles mothers with secondary education were more likely to utilise both the 2nd and 3rd doses of the polio vaccine as well as the 3rd dose of the pentavalent vaccine for their children as compared with their uneducated counterparts. Conclusion: The study therefore concludes that public sensitisation programmes on childhood immunisation with regional focus and ethnic rulers’ partnerships, targeting of older household heads, uneducated, unemployed and single mothers as well women empowerment through employment and education are effective tools in ensuring Child health utilisation (immunisation) in Ghana.