STUDY OF SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS INFLUENCING THE VACCINATION STATUS OF CHILDREN.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta*

ABSTRACT

Background: Immunization has been one of the most significant, cost-effective and stimulatory public health interventions. Although a definitive immunization program has been advocated for children in our country, the immunization coverage is far from satisfactory. The current study seeks to assess vaccination coverage and socio demographic factors affecting immunization status of children. This study helps to understand the problems to better manage the program at the local level. Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Bhanwrasla area of Indore city in march-2014 to June-2014. 200 children between 01 to 05 years were included in the study. Data were collected by a predesigned, pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire by house to house visit. Results: The coverage level was 46.86% for complete vaccination. Illiteracy of parents, (30.73%) and lack of knowledge regarding immunization (24.16%) were the most common reasons for incomplete vaccination. Low parental age, lower socioeconomic class, home delivery, less antenatal visits, birth order etc. are significantly associated, while gender was not significantly associated with vaccination coverage of children in the study area. Conclusion: Observation from the present study points towards pressing the need to accelerate efforts of more focused interventions towards the target group (i.e. illiterate parents, lower socioeconomic class, etc.) for improving the situation in the study area.

Keywords: Immunizationstatus, Coverage, Socio demographic factors.