BACKGROUND Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right.Vaccines are critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-...BACKGROUND Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right.Vaccines are critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic and associated disruptions over the past two years have strained the health systems,with many children missing out on essential childhood vaccines.AIM To evaluate the immunization coverage among 12-23-month-old children in the rural areas of Community Health Centre(CHC)Dighal and to determine the factors influencing the existing immunization coverage.METHODS A coverage evaluation survey was conducted according to the 30-cluster sampling technique,which is the standard methodology for such surveys devised by World Health Organization.A total of 300 children aged 12-23 months were included,whose immunization details were noted from their immunization cards.RESULTS Full immunization rate was noted in 86.7%of the children,with partial and non-immunized children accounting for 9%and 4.3%respectively.The full immunization dropout rate was 4.2%.The common reasons for partial or non-immunization were family problem including illness of mother,vaccine not being available and child being ill.Place of birth(P=0.014)and availability of immunization card(P<0.001)were significant predictors of the immunization status.Since the study was conducted in 2020/2021,health services were disrupted due to the COVID-19 lockdown.CONCLUSION Due to the coverage being higher than the national average,it was concluded that the immunization coverage was optimal and not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Immunization is a key component of primary health care and an indisputable human right.Vaccines are critical to the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks.The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic and associated disruptions over the past two years have strained the health systems,with many children missing out on essential childhood vaccines.AIM To evaluate the immunization coverage among 12-23-month-old children in the rural areas of Community Health Centre(CHC)Dighal and to determine the factors influencing the existing immunization coverage.METHODS A coverage evaluation survey was conducted according to the 30-cluster sampling technique,which is the standard methodology for such surveys devised by World Health Organization.A total of 300 children aged 12-23 months were included,whose immunization details were noted from their immunization cards.RESULTS Full immunization rate was noted in 86.7%of the children,with partial and non-immunized children accounting for 9%and 4.3%respectively.The full immunization dropout rate was 4.2%.The common reasons for partial or non-immunization were family problem including illness of mother,vaccine not being available and child being ill.Place of birth(P=0.014)and availability of immunization card(P<0.001)were significant predictors of the immunization status.Since the study was conducted in 2020/2021,health services were disrupted due to the COVID-19 lockdown.CONCLUSION Due to the coverage being higher than the national average,it was concluded that the immunization coverage was optimal and not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
