EVALUATION OF CHILDHOOD (UNDER - FIVE) IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

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Author

Presented To

Department of Medicine

ABSTRACT
An evaluation of childhood immunization coverage was carried out in Bwari Area Council between August and September, 2000 aimed of assessing mothers knowledge, attitude to and utilization of childhood immunization services. Resources availability for immunization services delivery was also assessed. The WHO 30 by 7 cluster sampling technique was used to sample 210 mothers of children aged 11 - 23 months for the knowledge, attitude and practice study wise. The result shows that the immunization coverage of the children was low. Only 57.7% of the children were fully immunized compared to WHO target of 80% by the year 2000. 30.4% were partially immunized and 12% were not immunized. Factors that were found to be significantly associated to the immunization status of the children includes distance from immunization centre, about 23.4% of children still live outside the 5km radius from vaccination points recommended by WHO, maternal education- 46.6% of children that are fully immunized belong to literate mothers, knowledge about immunization and childhood preventable diseases, 49% of the children that and fully immunized belong to the more knowledgeable mothers. Reasons given by mothers for non-utilization of immunization services includes no vaccines, no knowledge of purpose of immunization, distance from immunization points amongst others. Overall drop-out rate is 42.3% and drop-out rate between OPV1 and OPV3 DPT, and DPT3 was 28.6%. These figures are high. Reasons given by mothers includes, no vaccines in vaccination centres, forget fullness, no time as mothers were too busy, was not fold to come back, child took ill. Analysis of the resource availability in the local government area shows problems in areas of transportation, shortages of needless and syringes, inadequate manpower, poor funding, inadequate vaccine supplies. The study demonstrated some obstacles and constraints at all stages of programme implementation. In the light of the findings, recommendations were proffered on how to overcome these bottlenecks and achieve programme desired objectives.