Utilization of Immunization Services among Children Aged Under Five in Kirinyaga County, Kenya
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Date
2019-03
Authors
Njeri, Margaret Wangui
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Immunization is a key approach that can be successfully employed to reduce deaths
and illnesses among children. Immunization presently averts an estimated 3 million
deaths annually for children aged under five. Kenya Expanded Program on
immunization has a stipulated immunization schedule guideline that should be
adhered to for effective utilization of immunization services for improved health
outcome. The study was prompted by the alarming statistics on morbidities related
to vaccine preventable diseases in a County where there has been a lot of
intervention on immunization services. The main objective of the study was to
investigate utilization of immunization services among children aged under five in
Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to assess the level of
utilization of immunization services, establish the social-demographic factors
associated with immunization services, determine health service factors influencing
immunizing services and assess family factors associated with utilization of
immunization services. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the
community among 388 participants in the five sub-counties of Kirinyaga County.
This was done through systematic random sampling of every 9th household. The
respondents were interviewed through structured questionnaires. Children
immunization record card was assessed for data entry. Data was analyzed by Social
Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Descriptive findings were presented
in tables and bar graphs while inferential statistics used chi-square test to measure
association between independent and dependent variables. P- Values equal to or less
than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The results showed that
utilization of immunization services was not in compliance with the National Child
Immunization Schedule that ensures maximum protection from vaccine preventable
diseases. Measles 2 vaccine the last antigen in the schedule administered at 18
months had 58%. A confidence interval of 95% was adopted thus setting significant
thresholds at 0.05 implying any threshold less than 0.05 was significant in affecting
utilization of childhood immunization. The results indicated that socio- demographic
factors such as age, gender, educational level, income levels had p values(p<0.005)
and were all significant factors that affected timely utilization of childhood
immunization. Religion was found to have no effect on utilization and had p values
(p>0.005) The health service factors such as waiting time, stock out of vaccine,
rescheduling of vaccine and return dates had p values (p<0.05) and were all
significant factors that affect Utilization of immunization services negatively.
Distance was found to have no effect on utilization (p>0.05) The study established
that family factors had a strong statistical significant relation with utilization of
immunization services such as myths and misconception, side effects, parity, sick
children and lack of information and had p values (p<0.05). Birth order (p>0.005)
was found to have no effect on utilization of immunization services. The Conclusion
was that the levels of performance antigens was below the recommended target by
WHO of 85%. It was recommended that health education program be carried out to
improve utilization of immunization services and door to door campaign to trace and
immunize defaulters.
Description
Thesis Submitted in Partial Fullfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health (Reproductive Health) in the Shool of Public Health of Kenyatta University