Factors Affecting the Implementation of Immunization
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives
The general objective or main objective of this study is to examine the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are:
- To understand the factors affecting the implementation of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
- To identify the problem of immunization in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
- To understand the attitudes of parents toward immunizing their children in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
History of immunization
Before the modern era of childhood immunization parents would have been surprised at the thought that future generations will be able to protect their children from many of serious childhood diseases. After all, there was a time when diphtheria was one of the most feared childhood diseases claiming more than 1000 lives in a year in USA 1920s. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio paralysed and even killed children in the thousands. At one point in time, the measles affected nearly half a million US children every year. Almost everyone in the US got it at some point during childhood and its sometimes caused complication such as pneumonia and encephalitis.20,21 Today most children in the United states live much healthier lives and parents live with much less anxiety and worry over infections during childhood. Even though vaccines are relatively recent developments, more than 200 years ago in United Kingdom, Edward Jenner noticed that some dairymaids seemed protected from small pox if they had already been infected by the much less dangerous virus fluid caused cowpox in the same child. In 1976, Jenner conducted an experiment, scratching the arm of an 8 year – old boy named James Philips using materials from a cowpox sore. He later repeated the experiment but added a small amount of small pox into the same child. He hoped that the procedure would be used to immune the child against the deadly small pox infection.
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study design
It was a cross-sectional study and a semi- structured interview administered questionnaire was used to obtain the data. The questionnaires collected information on the sociodemographic characteristics of caregivers, their knowledge and perception about vaccine preventable disease, history of vaccines received by children and reasons for vaccination, and non vaccination.
Study population
Mothers/Caregivers of children aged 0-5years
Inclusion criteria
All children within the age bracket of 0-5 years whose mothers in Jere consented to be studied
Exclusion criteria
All children whose mother refused to participate
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
This study was carried out on the factors affecting the implementation of immunization. There was over two third complete immunization uptake and almost all the respondents admitted that immunization should start in first week of life. Some benefits of immunization include; preventing illness, death and to make child grow healthy and strong. The main reason for receiving each immunization dose was for prevention of illness/protection of child while for the missed immunization doses including unavailability of drugs, bad road/transport issues, mother or baby being sick , ignorance. Educational level of mother was a predictor of complete immunization uptake. Some of the suggested ways mothers in this community be helped and encouraged to present their children for immunization and on time includes regular availability of drugs, health education/enlightenment, availability of dedicated and well trained staff(man power improvements) and Incentives/rewards. These suggestions if well addressed will improve immunization uptake and ultimately promote lives of our children
Recommendation
- There is need for educational empowerment of mothers since it has been identified as a predictor of complete immunization uptake. Equally it will address the problem of ignorance.
- Mass mobilization and mass media sensitization need to be enhanced to achieve the desired immunization uptake
- Drugs (Vaccines) should always be made available since it a major identified reason for missed doses of immunization.
- Social amenities like good roads and other good means of transport should be made readily available to address the issues arising from such.
- Religious issues and cultural issues like beliefs should be supported since they don’t deter immunization
- Incentives like Insecticide Treated Nets can be provided as incentive or gift for those that complete immunize their babies
- Dedicated and well trained staff should be employed and used in administering of Immunization/vaccination
REFERENCES
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