Parental Satisfaction and Barriers Affecting Immunization Services in Rural Communities: Evidence from North Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:The purpose of this study was to examine barriers affecting client satisfaction with immunization services rendered in rural district, Ethiopia. A total of 419 caretakers who accessed the service were included and assessed for their satisfaction level using a pretested questionnaire that contained socioeconomic, demographic information, knowledge and various items related to process, service and accessibility factors on immunization service. The response rate was 99.3% and nearly two third of caretakers were satisfied with childhood immunization service. The majorities of caretakers were mothers and over three quarters had formal education. The highest mean rating score of 2.03 was observed in vaccine availability. The major determinants were related to low knowledge on vaccine preventable child illness; desire to vaccinate breastfeeding child and quality of care score. To maximize the benefits of vaccine preventable illnesses and improve the satisfaction levels, augmenting the knowledge of caretakers on vaccine preventable child illnesses and improving the quality of the service is crucial.

Maternal Satisfaction towards Childhood Immunization Service and Its Associated Factors in Wadla District, North Wollo, Ethiopia, 2019

“…Furthermore, in this study, shorter service waiting time (i.e., less than 30 minutes) to get vaccination was another significant predictor for maternal satisfaction towards childhood immunization service. The result is in line with the study finding from Jigjiga [14] and Kombolcha [13] of Ethiopia and Nigeria [38]. As shorter service waiting times might be linked with better accessibility of care and quality service provision, it could increase the satisfaction of mothers towards childhood immunization service and enhance the utilization of health services provided by the health center.…”

“…Moreover, the current study showed that information provision about the current vaccine was also another significant predictor of satisfaction to childhood immunization service. This finding is consistent with the study findings done in Jigjiga [14] and Kombolcha [13] of Ethiopia, Ilorin, north-central Nigeria [38], and India [50].…”

“…In congruent with a study conducted in Kombolcha of Ethiopia [13] and Kenya [45], the finding of the current study also revealed that greeting/welcoming approach by health care providers had a positive effect on the level of maternal satisfaction towards childhood immunization. Mothers who got greetings were 5.7 times more likely satisfied than mothers who did not got greetings/welcoming approach.…”

“…In this study, 62.3% of mothers wait for more than 30 minutes prior to receiving immunization service for their children's, which is higher than the studies conducted in two towns of Ethiopia: kombolcha (23.4%) [13] and Jigjiga (30.1%) [14]. Higher client flow and delayed opening time in the current study area could contribute for the differences.…”

“…However, regardless of the above interventions, immunization coverage in many parts of the country is still found to be less than desired one [1]. According to the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) report, in 2016, close to two in every five children aged 12-23 months (39%) received all basic vaccinations at some time, only 22% were vaccinated at the appropriate age, and about 16% of children have not received any vaccinations [12][13][14].…”