Factors associated with incomplete child immunisation: evidence from Lusaka,District

Abstract

Immunization is one of the most successful public health initiatives. The World Health Organization fact sheet, in 2017 indicates that immunization currently averts an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths every year. However, about 29,000 children worldwide who are under the age of five still die every day, mainly from vaccine preventable diseases. Uptake of vaccines with multiple doses up to the last dose has been a problem. Partial or incomplete immunization against leads to reappearance of childhood vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) and consequently high infant mortality. There is limited data is available to explain the reason behind non-completion of immunisation and, that could support the decision making. This study was aimed at identify factors associated with completion of child immunisation schedule in Lusaka district, Zambia. The study employed a mixed method design where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The quantitative cross section design data will be secondary data which will be obtained from the Gavi Full Country Evaluation (FCE), Household Survey that was conducted in 2014/15 by The University of Zambia. The qualitative approach were Focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted with mother and health workers respectively. It was established in this study that mother generally demonstrated that they were aware about vaccines and they knew the benefits of the vaccines. The reasons for incomplete child immunisation include the mothers low levels of education, the negative perceptions such as the fear of side effects of the vaccines, mothers negligence resulting from the mothers laziness or unwillingness to bring the child for immunisation, the bad treatment by the health workers on mothers and various social factors such as mother having to attend to social engagements like funerals and weddings. Economic factors included lack of transport money, mothers having to do some work. Demographically, older mothers were less likely to have children immunisation than younger mothers, further older children were less likely to be fully immunised than younger ones. All in all, the reasons for incomplete child immunisation found in this study hinge on the mother’s education, age, lifestyle and the mothers experiences with immunisation service and the vaccines. Social and economic factors leading to incomplete immunisation are mostly the mothers competing priorities.