Peer-reviewed article
Study of Coverage and Barriers of Immunisation Among Children of Age 12–23 Months in Urban Areas of Rishikesh
T. J. Asha, Mahendra Singh, Pradeep Aggarwal, Nandita Sharma, Ajun Unnikochan Narayanan et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study measured immunisation coverage among children aged 12–23 months in urban Rishikesh, India, finding that 92% were fully immunised. Coverage rates varied significantly by vaccine type, with BCG at 99.5% and measles at 93.8%. Full immunisation was significantly associated with parental education, family socio-economic status, and birth order of the child. The study identifies a need for ongoing monitoring and targeted efforts to reach all population groups.
Key points
- 92% of children aged 12–23 months were fully immunised in urban Rishikesh
- BCG vaccine had the highest coverage at 99.5%, while measles vaccine had the lowest at 93.8%
- Full immunisation coverage was statistically significantly associated with parental education, family socio-economic status, and child's birth order
- Additional vaccine uptake showed significant association with family socio-economic status and place of vaccination
- Variations in immunisation coverage across socio-economic and demographic factors highlight the need for regular monitoring and targeted interventions
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study in one urban area, so findings may not generalise to rural settings or other regions. The study identifies associations but does not explain the specific barriers to immunisation or mechanisms behind the observed variations.
Abstract
Background: Ensuring high immunisation coverage and its acceptance among the beneficiaries are crucial for a healthy society. Hence, this study aimed to estimate vaccine coverage and barriers of immunisation among children of age 12–23 months in urban areas of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Aims: To estimate the immunization coverage rate among children of age 12-23 months in urban area of Rishikesh. Objectives: To identify the barriers towards immunization in children of age 12-23 months in urban area of Rishikesh. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was done in urban areas of Rishikesh for 1 year, including 210 children, using the WHO's 30 × 7 cluster sampling technique to collect data on immunisation status. Results: About 92% of the children were fully immunised. Bacillus Calmette–Guérin has the highest coverage rate (99.5%), whereas the coverage was the lowest for the measles vaccine (93.8%). Full immunisation coverage was found to be statistically significant with the education of the respondent, socio-economic status (SES) of the family and birth order of the child. Additional vaccines uptake showed a significant association between SES of the family and the place of vaccination. Conclusion: There were significant variations in childhood immunisation coverage across socio-economic and demographic factors. These findings emphasize on the need for regular monitoring and evaluation of immunisation coverage to achieve the benefits of vaccination in all strata of society.