Knowledge, attitude and practice of childhood immunization among mothers of under-fives in Kosofe Local Council Development Area, Lagos State

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Vaccine preventable diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries despite the availability of vaccines. This study determined childhood immunization uptake and associated factors among mothers of underfives in Kosofe, Lagos State.

Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study among mothers of children less than five years of age who resided in Kosofe LCDA of Lagos State, Nigeria. It was conducted between April and June, 2013. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the 300 mothers who participated in the study. Data was collected with structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed with Epi info version 3.5.1. Level of significance set for analysis was a 5% significance level.

Results: Only a small proportion of respondents (17%) had good knowledge of childhood immunization; their attitude towards childhood immunization was generally positive (96.6%) and their immunization uptake was good (88.1%). The prevalence of individuals who had missed their immunizations was 14%. The commonest immunizations missed were measles and yellow fever. Higher maternal educational level, Christian religion and better knowledge of immunization had significant, positive influence on the uptake of childhood immunization.

Conclusion: Mothers had poor knowledge but high uptake of childhood immunization. A high rate of incomplete immunisations was also observed. We recommend health education as well as female education to improve maternal knowledge and further improve the uptake of immunization. Short message service (SMS) reminders may also be considered to reduce incidence of incomplete immunization.

Keywords: childhood immunization, uptake, under-fives, care-givers, Lagos