KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECTS OF IMMUNIZATION OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 YEARS

Abstract

This study was on knowledge and understanding of the effects of immunization of children under the age of 5years. Three objectives were raised which included:  To find the effect of knowledge of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5years, to find out the effect of education of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5 years and to find out the effect of religion of mother on the immunization of children under the age of 5 years. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected nursing mothers in Ibadan. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS)

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Immunization is one of the most cost-effective health investments worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) in 1974 with the aim of immunizing children throughout the world. The programme uses proven strategies, like outreach services, to ensure delivery of vaccines even to the most hard-to reach and vulnerable populations. The worldwide implementation of this programme has resulted in more than 100 million infants being immunized each year, saving 2–3 million lives annually (Tagbo BN, 2012)

In Nigeria, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was initiated in 1979 to ensure that all children had access to routinely recommended vaccines and relaunched in 1984. This programme led to significant progress in the delivery of immunization services with 8I.5% coverage for all antigens recorded during the Universal Childhood Immunizations (UCI) days (1986- 1990s). However, this achievement was not sustained as periods of fluctuation in EPI performances (interludes of declines and improvements) and a significant decline in immunization coverage were noted in the 1990s. EPI was then restructured and renamed as National Programme on Immunization (NPI) in 1997, in an effort to enhance the effectiveness of the routine immunization programme and to meet the global challenges of immunization. It was subsequently taken over by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in May 2007 for better management, organisation and improved logistics up to the ward /Primary Health Care (PHC) level (Etana B, 2012)

In May 2012, Nigeria commenced expansion of existing children initiatives, with emphasis on polio eradication and strengthening of routine immunization with the replacement of Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine with pentavalent vaccine which contains more antigens (Hepatitis B and Haemophilus type B).There was introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in 2014, introduction of single dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in 2015 and switch from trivalent (tOPV) to bivalent OPV (bOPV) in April 2016 in the routine immunization programme. All these were aimed at strengthening the existing initiatives directed at the eradication of vaccine preventable childhood killer diseases (Hannan AA, 2014)

Immunization can be routine or supplemental (immunization campaign). In Nigeria routine immunization services are provided largely through the primary health care system by the government to the populace. Routine immunizations are nationally scheduled regular administrations of vaccine dosages to infants and require parents/caregivers taking the children to the health facility to receive age-appropriate doses of the antigen specific days of the week to reduce vaccine wastage since most of the vaccines are supplied in multidose vials. National Programme on Immunization (NPI) prescribes five visits to the health facility to receive one dose of Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) and Hepatitis B at birth, three doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (including one IPV), and three doses of Pentavalent vaccine, at six, ten and fourteen weeks and one dose of measles vaccine and yellow fever given at nine months of age. It is recommended that a child should receive all immunization at the appropriate ages and intervals in order to ensure maximal protection from vaccine preventable diseases. The percentage of children who have receive the requisite number of vaccine doses irrespective of the age at receipt of the vaccine is used to determine vaccination coverage and the third dose of pentavalent vaccine is the key indicator to measure immunization programme coverage  (Subani S, 2015)

Statement of the problem

Infant routine immunization coverage for Polio, DPT and Measles among children of 12 to 18 months in Nigeria in the past years, are far below the targeted average percentage of 80%. Routine immunization (RI) against the childhood vaccine preventable diseases usually requires the child to make five prescribed visits to a static immunization clinic. At each visit the mother or caregivers is given appointment dates (written on the child’s registration card) for the next vaccination. Despite this approach, knowledge, education, and religion of mothers have been reported as major contributory factors to low immunization coverage in Nigeria. based on this background the researcher wants to investigate the knowledge and the understanding  of immunization of children under the age of 5 years

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To find the effect of knowledge of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5years
2. To find out the effect of education of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5 years
3. To find out the effect of religion of mother on the immunization of children under the age of 5 years

Research hypotheses

The following research hypotheses are formulated to guide the study

H0: there is no effect of knowledge of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5years

H1: there is effect of knowledge of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5years

H0: there is no effect of education of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5 years

H2: there is effect of education of mother on immunization of children under the age of 5 years

Significance of the study

The study will give a clear insight on the knowledge and the understanding of the effects of immunization of children under the age of 5 years. The study will be beneficial to students, mothers and the ministry of health. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers knowledge and the understanding of the effects of immunization of children under the age of 5 year. The study will be limited to nursing mothers in Ibadan

Limitations/constraints are inevitable in carrying out a research work of this nature. However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.

Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

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