Yaguo Ide, L.E, Gabriel-Job N*
Background; Vaccination is one of the most important cost effective interventions of our
time, it has saved millions of lives of under-five children globally and brought about a
reduction in the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases all over the world but
especially in sub-Saharan Africa and also in Nigeria. Despite all of these, vaccination of
children has remained low especially amongst the children that need it most. Aim; The
aim of this study was to determine the vaccination status of children at Umuebele
community and factors influencing it. Methods; This was a descriptive community-
based study carried out over a period of two months June-July 2019. Data was collected
using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire which was designed by
researchers, consisting of three sections. Information obtained included socio-
demographic characteristics, vaccination status and characteristics, reasons for not
completing immunisation, place of immunisation Results; There were 438 respondents,
mean age 31.96 ±5.626, most were aged 26-30years 150(34.2%), 437(99.8%) of the
respondents were married, only 1(.2%) had no formal education, while 340(77.6%) were
farmers. 270(61.6%) of the children were fully vaccinated. Twenty (4.6%) of the children
were not vaccinated at all. 391 (89.3%) of the children received their vaccination at the
health center. 8(1.8%) of the respondents did not own a vaccination card while BCG scar
could not be sighted in 73(16.7%) of the children. Twenty (11.9%) of the respondents did
not vaccinate their wards because they forbid vaccination, with PCV3 being the least
received vaccine 66.9% and BCG was the most received 93.8%. There was a statistically
significant relationship between vaccination status and respondents age, education and
place of vaccination P=.000,.001 and .000 respectively while sex of the children and
marital status did not significantly affect vaccination status P=.447 and P= .375
respectively In conclusions, vaccination status of children at umuebele community is still
low, improving universal primary education, and support routine vaccination at the
primary health care centers would impact positively on vaccination status and reduce
mortality and morbidity from vaccine preventable diseases.
Keywords: Vaccination status, children, community, immunisation
PDF
