Peer-reviewed article
A comparative study on the vaccine coverage in children under 5 years in Houaphan Province, Lao PDR
Phaythoun Kenvongphachach, Myungken Lee, Keum Ji Jung, Sunjoo Kang ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study compared immunization coverage rates for children under 5 in rural and urban areas of Houaphan Province, Lao PDR, using secondary data from 2018-2019. Rural immunization coverage increased only marginally from 55% to 56%, while urban coverage rose significantly from 71% to 93%. The difference was attributed to better performance, vaccine availability, and cold chain management in urban health centers. The findings highlight persistent rural-urban inequalities in immunization despite national health programs.
Key points
- Rural immunization coverage increased by only 1 percentage point (55% to 56%) between 2018 and 2019
- Urban immunization coverage increased by 22 percentage points (71% to 93%) in the same period
- Urban areas had better vaccine availability, cold chain maintenance, and health center performance
- Rural areas continue to lag significantly behind urban areas despite national immunization programs
- National immunization policies need to be flexible and responsive to different circumstances in urban and remote areas
Limitations
This is a secondary data analysis from one province only, so findings may not be generalizable to all of Lao PDR. The study does not identify specific barriers in rural areas or test interventions to address the coverage gap.
Abstract
Background: Immunization plays a vital role in the lives of children in the protection against infectious diseases such as measles, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and diphtheria.Under the National Health Mission in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), there are different programs and facilities for newborn and child health.However, despite these schemes and programs, the immunization coverage rate in the rural areas of Lao PDR is considerably low as compared to that in urban areas.We conducted a critical review of the various factors, schemes, and research currently being conducted on child immunization.Methods: A retrospective secondary data analysis was performed.Secondary data on childhood immunization coverage in 2018 was collected from the Directorate General of Health Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Lao PDR.Results: The coverage of immunization in the rural areas increased by only 1%, from 55% in 2018 to 56% in 2019, whereas that in urban areas increased significantly by 22%, from 71% in 2018 to 93% in 2019 because the Expanded Program Immunization Department in urban areas has improved its performance at health centers and ensures that vaccines are available with proper storage and maintenance of the cold chain.Conclusion: Although impressive gains have been made in reducing infant mortality and increasing immunization coverage in the Lao PDR, inequalities persist in rural areas.International organizations and governments of the Lao PDR each have important roles in supporting not only vaccine purchases but also infrastructure efforts and supervision that can achieve and sustain national immunization goals.The immunization policy must be national in scope.Additionally, it must be flexible enough to respond to special circumstances that occur in urban and remote areas.