Defaulting on child vaccination and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months of age in Gambella town, south west Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: EDHS conducted in Ethiopia on 2016 revealed; only 41.1% of children 12-23 months of age fully completed their vaccination. Although coverage of individual vaccine improved in Ethiopia, proportion of completely vaccinated children with all recommended vaccines rarely achieved. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess defaulting on child vaccination and associated factors among children aged 12-23months in Gambella town, 2019 Method: Community based cross sectional study was conducted among 733 mothers/caretakers of children age 12-23 month from March 18-April18/2019 in five kebeles found in Gambella town. The collected data was entered to Epidata version3.1 and analysed by using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics analyses were employed. Multi nominal logistic regression was used to assess the association between independent variables and vaccination status (Fully vaccinated, defaulted at three dose and defaulted at measles). P-value < 0.05 was used as cut-off point for statistical significance of factors associated with defaulting on vaccination among children aged 12-23months. Result: Child defaulted at measles 114(15.5%), and at three dose 90(12.3%), and 529(72.2%) fully immunized. Four variables were significantly associated with defaulted at three dose and at measles. At three dose; mothers no ANC visit (AOR= 3.9; CI: 1.90, 8.04), mothers no PNC visit (AOR= 5.1; CI: 2.87, 9.32), mothers with misconception on vaccination (AOR=2.4; CI: 1.36, 4.41) and mothers with no satisfaction on health care service (AOR=15.2; CI: 7.66, 30.33) were significant. At measles; mothers no ANC visit (AOR= 2.4; CI: 1.24, 4.63), mothers no PNC visit (AOR= 7.2; CI: 4.15, 12.88), mothers with misconception on vaccination (AOR=3.2; CI: 1.88, 5.63) and mothers with no satisfaction on health care service (AOR=10.8; CI: 5.94, 19.73) were significant. Conclusion: As compared to different studies, defaulting from vaccination in the study area was high. No ANC and PNC visit, misconception on vaccination and satisfaction on healthcare services were factors significantly associated with defaulting at three dose and measles. The town health office should consider the utilization of ANC and PNC visit, and improving misconception and satisfaction of mothers/caretakers on related to vaccination services