THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTHERS ACCESSIBILITY TO MASS MEDIA TOOLS AND FULL VACCINATION STATUS OF CHILDREN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Immunization is the most cost-effective and highest-impact health intervention, reducing hospitalization and treatment costs through prevention. Even when vaccinations are readily available and service delivery is good, coverage rates may still be low owing to problems arising from knowledge and awareness about vaccination by the mothers. The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between maternal exposure to mass media tools and full vaccination status of children in Nigeria. The study was a secondary data analysis using the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey carried out in 2008 in Nigeria. For the purpose of this study, women aged 15-49 years in these households and their last children who were born after January 2003 were of interest. Information on the immunization card was noted on questionnaire. Information on maternal Socio-demographic characteristics, exposure to mass media tools like radio, television was obtained. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to determine frequencies and proportions, chi square test was used to determine relationships between maternal exposure to mass media tools and full vaccination status, while multiple logistic regression methods were used to determine risk factors associated with full vaccination status. The mean age of mothers was 28.7 ± 9.5 years, while the proportion of fully immunized children was 18.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that Mothers who do not 1 is ten to radio at all(OR=0.672, 95% CJ=0.583-0.774), and those that listened to radio less than or at least once a week (OR=0.883, 95% CI=0.789-0.987) were less likely to have fully vaccinated children than frequent listeners of radio programs. Also mothers who do not watch television at all (OR=0.745,95% CI=0.628-0.883) were less likely to have fully vaccinated children, than frequent viewers of television. Other risk factors include; maternal age 15-24 years (OR=0.548, 95%=0.480-0.625), 25-34 years (OR=0.859, 95% CI=0.775-0.952), Northern region (OR=0.666, 95% CI=0.533- 0.834), ethnicity with Hausa (OR=0.5_78, 95% CI=0.471-0.710), and poverty (OR=0.571, 95% CI=0.462 0.706). The findings shows the importance of mass media on vaccination uptake. Completeness of vaccination was significantly correlated with knowledge on immunization via mass media tools like radio and television, and adequate attention should be given to this if high coverage levels are to be achieved.