ABSTRACT
Immunization
is one of the world’s most cost-effective health intervention that helps
prevent childhood diseases. However, many infants are not usually fully
vaccinated especially in developing countries. This increases to mortality rate
from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) in children. This study examines
factors influencing the attitude of mothers towards the immunization programme
in Uhiele village, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. The study used a cross-sectional
survey to collect data among mothers living in the study area with the aid of a
questionnaire. A total of 100 questionnaires were issued to the respondent at
random and 84 returned at the end of the research. The result obtained revealed
that 89.28% of mothers have completely immunized their children against the six
known vaccine preventable childhood diseases while 10.71% had not. Also, 86.90%
of respondents cited lack of vaccine preventable childhood diseases while
10.71% had not. Also, 86.90% of respondents cited lack of vaccines at primary
Health Care centers as their reasons for non compliance with the immunization
programme while 66.66% highlight inadequate health education as a reason for
non compliance. From the study, it is therefore conclusive that compliance to
the immunization programme depends mainly on the level of awareness of the
target population on health related issues and availability of needed vaccines
at primary health care centers.
CHAPTER
ONE
Immunization can be defined as the
process of protecting an individual from disease through the introduction of a
live, killed or partial component of the invading organism into the
individual’s system (Standhope and Lancaster, 2009). A person who is immune to
a disease is one who is protected against that disease by means of antibodies
circulating in his or her blood or present in the cells of the tissues of his
or her body (Fagbamide, 2010).
In developing countries such as
Nigeria, children between the ages of 0-2 years die at alarming rates while
some are disabled for life as a result of their encounter with one or more
communicable childhood diseases which include Tuberculosis, diphtheria,
pertussis, tetanus, measles and poliomyelitis that could have been easily
prevented by immunization (Sorungbe, 2010).
Nigeria started active immunization
against the common childhood diseases as far back as 1978 about the same time
the World Health Organization set a thirteen years target for the eradication
and curtailment of childhood diseases by establishing the Expanded Programme on
Immunization (EPI), which is also known as National Programme on Immunization
(NPI) in 1974 (Brandt, 1982).
However, within eleven years of
starting the immunization campaign in Nigeria, it was found that besides other
problems of logistics and coordination, the scheme was unattractive because of
superstitions built around immunization, thus adding as a burden the task of
convincing many Nigerians about the advantages of immunization (Sadoh and
Eregie, 2009). In a study by Babalola and Adewuyi, (2011), myths, rumors,
ignorance and suspicion where highlighted as major factors found to hinder
immunization Programme in Nigeria. In the sample, 16% believed that diseases
are caused by evil spirit, witchcraft and heat while mothers whoparticipated in
the study bemoans sickness, travel time, and, unavailability of needed vaccines
at primary health care centers as factors frustrating them from either
participating in the Programme or completing the immunization process while a
few mentioned religious issues such as purdah (Babalola and Adewuyi, 2011).
The problems of communicable childhood
diseases and their consequences on many Nigerian children indicate a gloomy
scenario that necessitates the expansion of the immunization programme in
Nigeria. Despite the efforts of the Nigerian government and non-governmental
organizations, many mothers are not complying with the immunization programme
(Goodman et al, 2009). However this study is aimed at assessing
mother’s knowledge on immunization programme, their attitude towards the
programme and factors influencing their attitude.
In developing countries, an estimated
four million unimmunized children dies from vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs)
before their first birthday while another four million children are affected by
preventable physical or mental disability caused by one or more of the six
known childhood diseases (Bundt and Hu, 2004). Immunization rates in northern
Nigeria are some of the lowest in the world (NPI/UNICEF, 2003). According to
the 2003 National Immunization Schedule, the percentage of fully immunized
infants in targeted states was less than 1% in Jigawa, 1.5% in Yobe, 1.6% in
Zamfara and 8.3% in Katsina (NPI/UNICEF, 2003). As a result, thousands of
children are victims of vaccine-preventable diseases despite continuous efforts
of both government and non-governmental organizations in creating awareness on
the immunization programme. Many mothers in these region do not complying with
the immunization programme as they ought to either due to superstitious
believes, religious problem or laxity; thus endangering the life of infants and
increasing mortality rate from childhooddiseases.
Specific objectives of this study
include:
1.
To evaluate the level of participation and
knowledge on community based immunization programme among mothers in rural communities.
2.
To evaluate the attitude of mothers towards the
immunization programme.
3.
To proffer recommendations on possible ways of
creating more awareness and sensitization on the importance of the immunization
programme.
Routine immunization has proven to be
one of the most cost-effective interventions for reducing childhood illness and
mortality (WHO, 2012). Therefore Information obtained from this study will help
managers of immunization programme in Nigeria to understand better the reasons
for non- compliance encountered in some part of Nigeria. This will help
vaccinators improve and understand better the mind of the people towards the
programme.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
This study attempt to provide answer
to the following research questions
1.
What are the respondent’s level of knowledge
about the immunization programme and their frequency of participation?
2.
What are the factors limiting mother’s
participation in the immunization programme?
3.
What are the possible ways immunization
programme can be improved?
SCOPE OF STUDY
This study is restricted to mothers
who reside in the study area. The questionnaire method of research was the only
too used for the study.
In executing this project, illiteracy
on the part of the respondents was a problem encountered as some respondents
could not read while those who could read were not able to understand some
questions in the questionnaire. Some sections of the questions were also left unmarked
by some respondents while some fail to return their questionnaire at the end of
the research. Also financial constrains were part of problems encountered as
the study area was far to locate thus increasing transport fare.
1. Knowledge: knowledge here refers to the awareness
of a particular fact or situation or a state of being informed or made aware of
something.
4.
Vaccine: A
vaccine is any preparation intending to produce immunity to a disease by
stimulating the production of antibodies.
5.
Immunity: Immunity
refers to the resisting power of the body to fight against invading
microorganisms.
6.
Immunization: Immunization
is the process by which an individual’s immune system becomes fortified against
an agent known as immunogen.
Vaccination: injection of a killed
microbe in order to stimulate the immune system against the microbe thereby
preventing disease.================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 48 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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