Determinants Of Missed Opportunities For Immunization Among Under-five Children In Ilorin Metropolis

Abstract

Missed opportunities in immunization had been a global public health obstacle to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Studies have also shown that missed opportunities in both routine and supplementary immunization contribute significantly to the low immunization coverage rates in many parts of Nigeria. This study set out to determine the reasons of missed opportunities in routine immunization among under-five year old children in Ilorin metropolis. This descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out in the second quarter of 2014 among under-five year old children in Ilorin metropolis. A pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to recruit 500 respondents into the study using multistage sampling method. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Frequency tables and simple percentages were used to present the descriptive statistics generated. Cross tabulation of important variables was also done. Chi-square test was used to determine the statistical significance of differences in variables observed. The level of statistical significance was predetermined at p-value of less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Majority of the (95.2%) of respondents were aware of immunization even though, 59.0% of them had actual knowledge of it. The prevalence of missed opportunities was 24.4%. Yellow fever and measles vaccines often missed compared to others. Factors responsible for the missed opportunities included the attitude of the health worker, prolonged time of waiting to receive vaccine, immunization clashing with other schedules and transportation problem. Respondents’ level ofknowledge on immunization and educational background were significantly associated with the prevalence of missed opportunities. Missed opportunities in immunization are still widespread in the study area. Female education and women empowerment should be given more attention and priority.

Key words: immunization, Ilorin, missed opportunity.