Effect of Maternal Education on Adoption of Immunization Services-A Case Control Study in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Abstract

Back ground: Immunization is the most powerful and cost-effective weapon for the prevention and control and even eradication of a disease. So awareness about immunization among the parents is essential to immunize their children.Objective: The present study was done to assess the effect of maternal education on adoption of immunization practices. Materials and Method:Data was collected in the immunization clinic of Hi-Tech medical college and hospital from the mothers of children coming for immunization. Results were analyzed by applying percentage and Chi-square test Results: 83.2% mothers have adequate knowledge about routine immunization. Majority (66.4%) mothers knew about adverse effects following immunization (AEFI), 66% knew about optional vaccines. Mothers with high educational levels had significantly better knowledge about immunization. Conclusion:Health education should be integrated with immunization to increase acceptance as well as coverage and success of immunization programme.

Optional Vaccine Utilization Has a Male Gender Preference – A Record Based Analysis From a Tertiary Care Centre of Eastern India

“…Studies have shown that awareness among mothers regarding optional vaccines is around 66 percent. (Patnaik, Mishra, and Choudhury 2014). Thus optional vaccines, since not available free of cost, have the potential to show gender disparity, if present, in case of vaccination.…”

“…Further qualitative research might be needed to find out the reasons behind this disparity that are amenable to corrections. By doing qualitative research probably we will get to know many themes (Angelillo et al 1999;Patnaik, Mishra, and Choudhury 2014) like lack of knowledge of parents about the importance of vaccination for female children; importance of various socio-demographic factors leading to gender disparity; education of the decision maker in the family for financial aspects (usually father); target for health education (father/ mother/ both); or approaches in communication for health education.…”

“…Immunization is one of the most effective public health strategies for restricting spread of various communicable diseases. (Patnaik, Mishra, and Choudhury 2014) In India, a child dies every minute from vaccine-preventable diseases. It also accounts for almost a fifth of all global under-five deaths; a large number of which are caused by vaccine-preventable diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and diarrhoea.…”