A Study of Reasons for Nonimmunization among Children attending the Services of a Rural Hospital in Raigad District, Maharashtra

Abstract

Introduction:Immunization is a cost-effective public health intervention to decrease childhood morbidity and mortality. According to the 3rd National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), 43.5% children aged 12 to 23 months were fully vaccinated. The 3rd District Level Household & Facility Survey (DLHS-3) showed 69% full-immunization coverage in Maharashtra with major regional variations. Rural Hospital, Panvel (Raigad), is in a peri-urban area providing health services to a mix of urban, rural, and migrant population. The study was conducted in this hospital with the aim to understand why people seeking health services for secondary prevention refrain from complying with routine immunization services.Objectives: To assess the reasons for partial and nonimmunization of the children and the knowledge regarding routine immunization.Materials and methods: All children who completed 1 year but below 5 years of age, attending the Rural Hospital, Panvel, during a period of 1 month from October 16 to November 15, 2014, were screened and those who were not fully immunized for the age were included in the study. Sociodemographic background, immunization status, reasons for partial and nonimmunization, and knowledge about routine immunization data were collected by personal interview using a prestructured, pretested questionnaire after obtaining informed consent.Results: Out of 303 children, 57 (18.8%) were found to be either partially immunized (47; 15.5%) or nonimmunized (10; 3.3%). The lack of knowledge (36%), lack of priority for immunization (33%), and poor communication by the health worker (21%) were the major reasons. 42% of the mothers were aware about the severity of the vaccine preventable diseases. However, 80% did not have the correct knowledge regarding the immunization schedule. Conclusion:The opportunities to vaccinate are still being missed and consolidated efforts to improve the active involvement of mother in the immunization activity are required.

Assessment of Utilization of Essential Immunization Services Among Children Under 2 Years in an Urban Slum of Bhubaneswar, Odisha

“…Kumar et al reported in his study in Mangalore Taluk, India that the main reason behind partial immunization was found to be lack of information regarding when to return for 2 nd and 3 rd vaccination, followed by lack of motivation and inconvenient time of immunization, respectively [7]. Sanjeev et al reported that lack of knowledge about routine immunization schedule and being busy with work were the major reasons [22].…”