Vaccine-related knowledge and utilization of childhood immunization among mothers in urban Lagos

Abstract

Background: Immunization is the single most costeffective preventive health intervention which saves the lives of 2 -3 million children annually. The
unsatisfactory immunization coverage numbers have unsurprisingly resulted in abysmal child mortality figures across the country.  This study aims to assess mother’s knowledge and immunization utilization among underfives in an urban community.

Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study was carried out among 232 mothers of under- five children in an urban community in Lagos State. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire was used as the survey tool for data collection and a checklist for sighted immunization cards. The entry and analysis of the data was done using EPI – Info Version 7.2.1.0 software computer program. Chi square was used to test association. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: All respondents were aware of immunization. Just over half (53.9%) of the respondents had good knowledge about immunization. Less than half (42.5%) of the under-five children were fully immunized. The vaccines most missed were oral polio and pentavalent vaccines. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of mothers and the immunization status of their children (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results indicate that mothers with good knowledge of different aspects of immunization were more likely to have fully vaccinated children. It is recommended that health workers enlighten mothers on the benefit of each vaccine.

Key words: Immunization, Underfive, Utilization, Vaccination, Knowledge