Comparison of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and maximum likelihood estimators to establish determinants of immunization in Trans-Nzoia County

Abstract

The client factors that influence under - five child guardian compliance to the immunization schedule are interlinked based on household characteristics, socioeconomic status, and maternal health practices. An incentive to motivate the mothers to prioritize thei r child’s health practices especially on vaccination, works perfectly towards the achievement of full immunization coverage. A randomly sampled study carried out within Weonia Location – Trans Nzoia County in March 2014 with target population of under - five c hildren showed the vital role an incentive innovation plays towards immunization coverage. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the determinant of partial or none - immunized and the parameters estimated using the maximum likelihood esti mator (MLE) and the shrinkage estimator - Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). The shrinkage estimator method gave a sparse model that was easy to interpret and increased the estimated predictability accuracy. Maternal health practices an d access to a motivating intervention are significant factors that ensure a guardian’s compliance to their child immunization.