Immunization Coverage and Factors Contributing to Nursing Mothers and their Neonates’ Adherence with Immunization Regimen in Infant-Welfare-Clinic, Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Vaccine preventable diseases are still the most common cause of childhood mortality, with an estimated 3 million deaths every year, mainly in Africa and Asia. An estimate of 29% deaths among children aged 1–59 months were due to vaccine preventable diseases. Despite the benefits of childhood immunization, routine vaccination coverage for all recommended Expanded Programme on Immunization vaccines has remained poor in some African countries, such as Nigeria (31%), Ethiopia (43%), Uganda (55%) and Ghana (57%). So therefore, this study aimed to investigate the immunization coverage and factors contributing to nursing mothers and their children’s adherence with immunization regimen in infant welfare clinic in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu, Ogun State.

A Cross- sectional design was conducted. The study was carried out at infant welfare clinic in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital Sagamu, Ogun State and the target population was all children under 59 months of age. A total of 403 participants were selected by simple random sampling method and data collection was by researcher administered semi- structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Descriptive statistics was used and data were presented in tables, bar graphs and frequencies and inferential statistics such as Chi square test was used to determine the level of statistical Significance between independents and dependents variables at p<0.05. Majority of the children (92.0%) were brought by their mothers. Among the study participants, (51.9%) were aged between 26-30 years with mean and standard deviation (34.04 ± 5.601). (72.7%) were married while 77.9% had attained secondary school. All the participants do you know that aim of immunization is to protect the children between 0-59 months from vaccine-preventable diseases. It was also found that level of education of the respondents is statistically significant with the level of perception towards the routine immunization regimen also, age of the mothers towards adherence to immunization regimen was also found to be significant with the level of knowledge towards routine immunization regimen by the mothers while other factors tested were not statistically not significant.

Socio demographic characteristic such as age, and level educational were only factors determined the adherence to immunization schedule while other socio-demographic characteristics proves insignificant. Health systems’ factors such as rigid clinic hours, long distance to health facility and lack of strategies to follow-up caregivers or remind them on due date influence non adherence to immunization schedule. So therefore, it is recommended that the health institutions should put in place mechanisms of reminding the caregivers on the return date using text messages. This will solve the problem of forgetfulness by the caregiver. It is however also recommended that a lot of emphasis should be laid on educating head of homes, mothers and religious groups on the importance of routine immunization in the lives of children and mothers.