Abstract:
Background: Tetanus is an excruciating disease that kills one new-born every eleven
or approximately 134 babies each day. Tetanus toxoid immunization is given to pregnant
women and women of child bearing age to prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus. In Ethiopia
Expanded program on immunization baseline report shows from 74% of mothers only 18%
mothers completed their tetanus toxoid vaccination. Therefore identifying factors associated
with tetanus toxoid immunization drop out is important to decrease the proportion of tetanus
toxoid immunization drop out as an effort for the elimination of maternal and neonatal
as well as effective utilization of resources.
Objective: To assess dropout of tetanus toxoid immunization and associated factors among
reproductive age group of women in Debrebirhan Town, Amhara Region, Northern Ethiopia.
Methods &Materials: A Community based cross-sectional study design was conducted in
Debrebirhan Town from March 1-30, 2017 on reproductive age group women. Systematic
sampling technique was used to select 422 study subjects. The data collection method was
face to face interview using interviewer administered structured pretested questionnaires. The
data was entered using Epi-data version 3.1.5 then exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis.
Descriptive statistics was done by using frequency, mean, standard deviation and cross
tabulation then bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to identify the association
between independent and dependent variables using binary logistic regression model.
Result: From total respondents (408) included in the study 72.3% of them drop out at least
one dose of their tetanus toxoid immunization according to schedule. Regarding the dropped
tetanus toxoid dose; the highest, 29.8% was tetanus toxoid five. The study revealed that
reproductive age group women were less likely to drop out, if they knew the importance, the
total dose for full vaccination and the schedule. Reproductive age group women knowledge
on schedule (AOR=0.129, 95% CI: 0.039-0.426) and number of tetanus toxoid dose needed
for full vaccination (AOR=0.255, 95% CI: 0.085-0.761) were statically significantly
associated with tetanus toxoid vaccination drop out among reproductive age group women.
Conclusion: the prevalence of dropout of tetanus toxoid immunization was high in the study
area compared to other studies. From socio demographic factors reproductive age group
women’s education level occupation and history of pregnancy had statically significant
association with tetanus toxoid vaccination drop out.
