Peer-reviewed article

Urban–rural differences in immunisation status and associated demographic factors among children 12-59 months in a southwestern state, Nigeria

Ibidolapo Ijarotimi, Akinola Ayoola Fatiregun, Oluwapelumi A. Adebiyi, Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, Olufemi Olamide Ajumobi · 5 Nov 2018

Summary

Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

This study examined immunisation coverage among children aged 12-59 months in a southwestern Nigerian state, comparing urban and rural areas. Out of 449 children surveyed, 81.3% were fully immunised, 16.7% were partially immunised, and 2% had never been immunised. Poverty, maternal lack of education, and maternal Islamic religious practice were associated with partial or no immunisation. The researchers concluded that immunisation coverage was reasonably high but still below the 95% target needed for disease control.

Key points

Overall immunisation coverage was 81.3%, below the recommended 95% target for disease control
Children in the poorest wealth quintile were 14.5 times more likely to be partially or unimmunised
Children whose mothers had no education were 6.4 times more likely to be partially or unimmunised
Children of Muslim mothers were 2.2 times more likely to be partially or unimmunised
The study recommends strategies targeting female education and religious institutions to improve immunisation uptake

Limitations

This cross-sectional study measured immunisation status at a single point in time and cannot establish causation. The study does not explain the mechanisms underlying the associations found, such as why maternal religion or education affect immunisation decisions.

Abstract

Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) are a leading course of child under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. A target of 95% immunization coverage is necessary for the sustained control of VPDs. This study aims to determine the immunization status and its associated demo-graphic factors among children 12-59 months old in Akinyele Local Government area (LGA), Oyo State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in one urban and one rural ward of Akinyele LGA. Fourhundred and forty-four (449) Under-five children were selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from caregivers using interviewer administered questionnaires. Odds ratios at 95% CIand Chi square at 5% significant level were computed to identify the factors associated with non or partial immunisation. Multiple logistics regression at 5% significance level was done to determine the socio-demographic determinants of immunisation status. Overall, 449 children aged 12-59 months were surveyed of which 213(47.4%) were males and 236(52.6%) were from urban area. Overall, 365(81.3%) was fully immunized, 75(16.7%) was partially immunized and 9(2.0%) had never been immunized. Predictors of a child being partially or un-immunised were being in the fourth wealth quintile (AOR 7.9; 95%CI: 2.7-18.0), poorest wealth quintile (AOR 14.5; 95%CI 4.2-20.5), having a mother with no education (AOR 6.4; 95%CI: 2.9-14.1) and a mother that practiced Islam (AOR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3-3.7). Immunisation coverage was somewhat high but still suboptimal among the study population. Strategies that improve female literacy and those that target religious institutions may be effective in improving immunisation uptake.