Peer-reviewed article
Factors Influencing Full Immunization Coverage of the Under-5 Children in Nangoma Constituency
Stephen F. Shamazubaula, Brian Chiluba ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view ·Key points
Limitations
Abstract
After observing continued loss of lives by the children who are below the age of five years old, World Health Organisation through its branch of public health saw the needs to strengthen immunisation program for under five children among member states. This was the birth and origin of expanded program on immunisation (EPI). Owing to the scarce of data on the status of immunization in the rural parts of Zambia such as Mumbwa District. This research paper was conducted to explore, determine, as well as describing the factors that influence and the status of full coverage of immunisation of under-five children in Nangoma Constituency of Mumbwa District. A cross-sectional study comprised of 134 participants from 5 randomly selected health facilities in Nangoma Constituency was conducted. The data was collected using kobocollect toolbox and analysed using version 23.0 of SPSS and MS Excel 365. The factors that were determined to be statistically significant according to the study included marital status (0.05 >p-value = 0.07), education attainment of the mother (p-value = 0.049), age of the child (0.05 >p-value = 0.013) and knowledge of immunisation (p-value = 0.021). Additionally, the study established that seasons play a critical role in taking a child for immunization especially when it is planting season when families are casting their seeds in the soil which also affect the roads. Distance to the health facility or delivery point, long queues, myths, traditions and culture, as well as availability of money to access the needed health service are among the many factors that affect full immunization coverage in Nangoma Constituency.