Identify the Factors Influencing Compliance to Immunization Schedule among Mothers of Under-five Children

Abstract

Introduction: Children need vaccination (shots) to protect them from dangerous childhood diseases. Immunization is a way of protecting the child from getting a disease. Immunization forms one of the most important and cost-effective strategies for the prevention of childhood diseases and disabilities and is compulsory for all children. Compliance is defined as receiving the required number of doses of vaccines at the appropriate age as shown on the immunization schedule table and recorded in the child’s record card. Method: A research design used for this study was descriptive survey approach. Purposive non random sampling technique was used to select the sample. The sample size was 150 mothers of under-five children. Data was collected by using structured interview schedule. Analysis was done by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The data shows, out of 150 mothers, majority i.e. 133 (88.7%) of them agreed with the factor that ill health of child at the time of immunization discouraged compliance. About 71 (47.3%) mothers compliance due to the fear of side effect of immunization. About 68 (45.3%) are affected due to lack of money. 51 (34.0%) of the respondents agreed with cultural/religious reason for compliance, on the other side 136 (90.7%) mothers disagreed with the unawareness of need for 2nd or 3rd dose of immunization. Besides that, according to the mothers, the following factors like long waiting time at the health center 131 (87.3%), lack of vaccine on the appointment day 133 (88.7%) and absence of personal at the health center 130 (86.7%) were not discouraging immunization, respectively.