Background: Immunization promotes child survival. Low vaccination coverage in rural areas in Nigeria is associated with
vaccination posts being too far, but other determinants exist.
Objective: To assess the proportion and determinants of full vaccination of children in a rural community with accessible
immunization services.
Methods: A cross-sectional house-to-house survey was conducted in a rural community in Edo State, Nigeria. The community
has two readily accessible vaccination posts. Using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, data on the vaccination status of
12-to-59 month-old children and other variables related to the child were collected from their mothers. . Fisher's exact test and
odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to explore factors associated with full vaccination.
Results: A total of 305 mothers were interviewed and 299 (98.0%) reported that their children received at least one of BCG,
OPV, DPT and measles vaccine. Fully vaccinated children were 246 (80.7%). A child's birth in a health facility (P < 0.001; OR =
0.15, 95%CI = 0.07-0.33), mother's knowledge of the benefits of immunization (P = 0.001; OR = 0.21, 95%CI = 0.08-0.60) a mother
being employed (P = 0.003; OR = 2.48, 95%CI =1.32-4.68) and a high birth order (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with
full vaccination.
Conclusion: Birth and maternal factors facilitate full vaccination in rural areas, especially where vaccination posts are readily
accessible. Knowledge and behavioural gaps should be corrected using health education. Qualitative studies are required to
better understand the behavioural determinants of full vaccination