Factors Affecting Low Coverage of Immunization under 2 years Age of Children in Nawalparasi District

Abstract

Background: Government target for coverage of immunization is more than 80%. But immunization coverage in Nawalparasi district is below to this government target. Many children die and many become disabled due to lack of proper immunization. This research determines different factors affecting low coverage of immunization in Nawalparasi district. Methods: This research was carried out in six VDCs of Nawalparasi district which has immunization coverage less than government target. For data collection different models of structured and unstructured questionnaire were used to conduct face-face interviews. Results: This study showed that 85% mothers didn't know the time interval between two doses of Polio and Measles. Similarly the percentage of mothers knowing only the names of vaccines ranged from 54% to 60%. The percentage of mothers knowing the age of (child) starting immunization ranged from 25% to 61%. The knowledge of doses of immunization among mothers was found to be in the low range of 33% to 60%. This pattern soundly predicts that in Nawalparasi district, there is lack of awareness about the names of vaccine; time interval between two doses of the same vaccine; age of vaccination of child and dose of immunization which have positive correlation with the low coverage of immunization. The effect of neighborhood for the low coverage of immunization was studied and found that 33% of children get immunized in other VDCs which had significant positive influence on the low coverage. In this study, mothers in joint family bear better knowledge score of immunization than that of mothers in nuclear family. An adverse reaction of vaccines has a significant positive correlation with low coverage of immunization. The behavior and punctuality of staffs is a significant factor for the low coverage. Conclusions: In order to reach the goal of complete coverage need to satisfy-the vaccines be accessible to the population (supply); the population be aware of the need to vaccinate children (demand) and there should be simple system of monitoring the coverage of immunization as well as monitoring of the cases detected. Keywords: factors; immunization; low coverage; vaccines.