Peer-reviewed article
Bridging Gaps in Childhood Immunization: Socio-Economic Factors Shaping Vaccine Coverage in Pakistan
Muhammad Irfan Malik, Muhammad Nadeem, Asad Ul Islam Khan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study uses Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys from 2006 to 2018 to look at differences in basic childhood vaccination coverage across regions and social groups. Children in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were less likely to be fully immunized than children in Punjab. Children from wealthier households, children of educated mothers, and children whose mothers had antenatal care or gave birth in a health facility were more likely to be fully immunized. Coverage rose by 20.2 percentage points over the period, and the factors studied explained 45% of that rise. The authors call for targeted action in underserved regions and support for low-income families, mothers' education, and antenatal and delivery services.
Key points
- Children in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were 18, 13.5 and 21.6 percentage points less likely, respectively, to be fully immunized than children in Punjab.
- Higher household wealth was linked with a greater likelihood of full immunization.
- Children of educated mothers were significantly more likely to be fully immunized.
- Male children were more likely to be fully immunized than female children.
- Antenatal care and institutional births were linked with higher vaccination rates; coverage rose 20.2 percentage points from 2006 to 2018, with 45% of the rise explained by the factors studied.
Limitations
The abstract describes associations in survey data and does not show that any of the factors cause higher vaccination, nor does it say how reliable the survey measures are. It does not evaluate a specific intervention, and it gives no detail on why the regional and gender gaps exist.
Abstract
Pakistan is one of the ten countries with the least vaccinated children, and remains to face continued challenges, including endemic polio and periodic measles outbreaks. This study examines the regional disparities of basic vaccination coverage and the impact of socio-economic factors on its improvement between 2006 and 2018 by utilizing the data from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys (PDHSs). The findings divulge significant regional disparities, with children in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan being 18, 13.5, and 21.6 percentage points less likely, respectively, to be fully immunized as compared to children in Punjab. Higher household wealth correlates with increased immunization likelihood, and children of educated mothers are significantly more likely to be fully immunized. Moreover, male children are more likely to be fully immunized than female children, and antenatal care and institutional births further enhance vaccination rates. A nonlinear decomposition analysis shows a 20.2 percentage point increase in coverage during this period, with given factors explaining 45% of this rise. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions in underserved regions, socio-economic support for low-income families, educational initiatives for mothers, and enhanced antenatal care and institutional delivery services to improve nationwide vaccination rates.