Peer-reviewed article
Exploring determinants of basic childhood vaccination coverage in Bangladesh: a generalized Poisson regression analysis
Priynka Roy, Mashfiqul Huq Chowdhury, Arzo Ahmed ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study analysed data from the 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey to identify factors affecting vaccination coverage in children aged 12–59 months. Using statistical regression analysis, the researchers found that maternal education, employment status, antenatal care access, and media exposure were significant predictors of whether children received all recommended vaccines. Children in the Sylhet division, born to younger or less educated mothers, and in smaller families faced greater barriers to complete vaccination.
Key points
- Children born in Sylhet division had lower chances of receiving full immunizations
- Maternal education and employment were significant factors: children of uneducated or unemployed mothers were less likely to be fully vaccinated
- Children whose mothers had access to media and received more than four antenatal visits were more likely to be fully vaccinated
- First-born children and those in smaller families were more likely to receive all recommended vaccines
- Targeted interventions should focus on vulnerable populations including young, uneducated mothers with middle-income status
Limitations
This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data, so it cannot establish causality or determine the direction of relationships between factors and vaccination coverage. The analysis identifies associations but cannot rule out unmeasured confounding variables or explain the mechanisms underlying these associations.
Abstract
Childhood vaccination is crucial for safeguarding children against potentially life-threatening diseases. This study aims to investigate the significant factors influencing vaccination coverage among children aged 12–59 months in Bangladesh. The study utilizes cross-sectional data from the 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. A Kruskal–Wallis test is employed in bivariate analysis to identify significant predictors associated with childhood immunizations. A generalized Poisson regression model is applied to assess the impact of various risk factors on children’s incomplete vaccination status. Children born in the Sylhet division show lower chances of receiving immunizations. Additionally, children whose mothers are younger, have no education or only primary education, and are unemployed, are less likely to be fully vaccinated. Furthermore, children born into smaller families, first birth, those whose mothers had access to media, and those who received more than four antenatal visits during pregnancy are more likely to have received all recommended vaccines. Implementing targeted interventions to improve childhood vaccination coverage, particularly among vulnerable populations such as young and uneducated mothers with middle-income status, is crucial. Enhancing media access, promoting the utilization of antenatal care at health care facilities, and raising awareness about the benefits of vaccination can help ensure optimal vaccination coverage among children in Bangladesh.