Peer-reviewed article
What Determines Child Immunisation? A Study of Socio-Economic Factors in East Sikkim
Ruma Kundu, Srikanta Kundu, Indraneel Mandal ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study looks at which household and social factors affect whether children in East Sikkim, India, receive full, partial or no immunisation. It uses a household survey of 204 respondents and applies ordered probit and Heckman probit statistical models. Birth order of the child, mother's age, standard of living, caste and religion were found to significantly affect immunisation coverage. For the extent of immunisation, mother's education, mother's age, gender of the household head and distance from hospital were important.
Key points
- Primary data came from a household survey of 204 respondents in East district, Sikkim.
- Birth order of the child, mother's age, standard of living, caste and religion significantly affect childhood immunisation coverage.
- Mother's education, mother's age, gender of the household head and distance from hospital matter for the extent of immunisation.
- Ordered probit and Heckman probit models were used to estimate the effects.
Limitations
The sample is small (204 respondents) and drawn from one district, so findings may not apply elsewhere. The abstract does not give effect sizes or say how the sample was selected, and it does not evaluate an intervention.
Abstract
Young children face the risk of being infected by a variety of diseases; this makes it necessary to resort to vaccination as a failsafe for ensuring healthy life of the child. However the success of the immunisation drive is conditioned by prevailing conditions. Some of these also determine whether family members opt for full, partial or no immunisation. This paper attempts to identify and estimate the impacts of various socio-economic factors on childhood immunisation coverage in the East district of Sikkim. The study is based on primary data consisting of 204 respondents collected through household survey. The ordered probit and Heckman probit models have been utilised to estimate the significant change in childhood immunisation coverage. The study found that the birth order of child (BOC), mother’s age, the standard of living, caste and religion have a significant impact on childhood immunisation coverage. With regard to the extent of immunisation, the important elements are mother’s education, mother’s age, gender of the household head and distance from hospital.