Utilization of essential immunization services among children under five years old in Kacheliba Division, Pokot County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Immunization contributes significantly to the achievement of millennium development goal number 4 and is one of the eight elements of primary health care. Effective utilization of immunization services is associated with improved child health outcomes. WHO targets immunization coverage of 90% for urban areas and 80% for rural areas. Most rural areas in remote counties of Kenya fall short of this target precipitating high mortality rates from immunisable diseases. Objectives: The main objective is to determine the utilization of immunization services by children under five in Kacheliba Division. The specific objectives were to determine the level of utilization of immunization services and economic and socio-cultural factors influencing utilization of immunization services. Methods: This was descriptive cross-sectional study involving use of quantitative techniques carried out in Kacheliba division, Pokot North District, Kenya. Kacheliba division, which has 4 locations, was selected through purposive sampling. In every location, a household that met inclusion criteria was selected by systematic sampling (every Kth household). The guardian or mother was interviewed and household’s demographic, socioeconomic and immunization status of children recorded in a structured questionnaire. Children’ immunization cards or booklets and BCG scar mark were scrutinized as well as the mother’s or guardian’s verbal verification. All the 8 health facilities in Kacheliba division were visited and their cold chain facilities assessed. Quantitative data was analyzed using stata version 12 special edition. Results: The study covered 381 children in 164 household. There were 178 boys and 203 girls with a mean age of 28.3 months. 41.7% of children were fully immunized with 59.8% measles vaccine uptake. Except for the level of education and age, respondents’ socioeconomic and cultural factors were not significantly associated with vaccine uptake. Conclusion: The proportion of fully immunized children was far below the WHO’s target of 80%. Demographic and socioeconomic factors were not significant predictors of immunization services uptake except age and education level. Therefore, it is recommended that educational and flexible frequent outreach programs on immunization services should be carried out among the Kacheliba residents to improve utilization of immunization services.