| dc.description.abstract | Immunization remains one of the most cost effective and efficient ways of preventing childhood diseases across the world. Delay in completing immunization schedule as required by the government puts the children at a risk of contracting the vaccine preventable diseases. The study was anchored on the theory of health Belief that originated in the US and is used in health education. The purpose <Jf this study was to investigate the determinants of delays in immunization regimen completion among children between 1 and 4 years living within Boro Division, Siaya County. Immunization regimen completion depend on a number of factors that include, distance to the health facilities, healthcare system, availability of vaccines at the health facilities, socio demographics characteristics of the mothers or caretakers, their levels of knowledge and levels of education, their perception and attitude on childhood immunization program and finally on the socio economic status of the mothers and caretakers.
The objectives of the study included; To investigate the extent at which socio demographic characteristics of the mothers and caretakers affect timely completion of immunization, to determine how socioeconomic status of the mother and caretakers influence timely completion of immunization, to examine how the education and knowledge of mothers/caregivers affect completion of immunization regimen and finally to explore how the mothers and caretakers attitude and perception towards immunization affect timely completion of immunization for the children within this age group. The findings of the study will help the regional and central governments, policy makers and other agencies develop regional strategies aimed at improving immunization completion as stipulated in the EPI guidelines. Descriptive cross sectional study design employing quantitative methods was used in this study. The target population were mothers of children between 1-4 years who have lived in Boro division in the past one year. Simple random sampling technique was used to come up with a proportional Sample size per location of 382 from a target population of 6800 mothers and caretakers, of which 364 (95.3%) questionnaires were administered and returned for analysis.
Village reporters and traditional birth attendants were employed to direct the interviewers to potential participants in the households where there are children between the required age brackets. Pilot testing of the data collection tool was done before actual data collection process to validate the tool. Data collected were coded, entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) for Windows version 12.0 and the results presented in tables. The results showed 17% of children did not complete immunization at 1 year. That being divorced, being of African Instituted churches (16.76%), not attended formal education (6.3%) and being in unskilled labor (24.7%) were significantly associated with delays in completion of immunization regimen among children in Boro Division, Siaya County. However, the perception and attitude variables had no significant association with delay in completion of the KEPI immunizations regimen among children in Boro Division. The researcher recommends that the government improves its image, health facilities to expand the scope of what they teach mothers. Suggestions of further studies on effect of clinical trials on immunization uptake and the determinants of other health related on delayed immunization completion. In conclusion, marital status, religions, educational level and occupations of the mothers/caretakers of children between 1-4 years were determinants of delays III completion of immunization regimen. | en_US |
