Reasons for Default from Childhood Immunization in a Riverine Community.

Abstract

Summary: In April 1991, 181 children aged between four and 59 months, were surveyed, using a questionnaire adapted from the WHO infant immunization questionnaire, to determine the immunization status. The parents of the 94 (51.9 percent) children who were partially or non-immunized were interviewed further in order to find out the reasons for default from immunization. Major reasons given included lack of knowledge in 66.00 percent, presence of obstacles in 25.5 percent and lack of motivation in 8.5 percent. Specific reasons were lack of knowledge of the place and time of immunization in 24.5 percent, fear of adverse reactions in 24.5 percent and lack of immunization centres in 14.9 percent of the subjects. It is suggested from the present findings that regular availability of and increased access to immunization services together with community education on the available vaccines and their adverse effects, will help to improve coverage rates of immunization.