Objective: This survey studied the socio-economic factors that affect the uptake of
immunisation services in three selected Local Government Areas of Anambra State.
Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study.
Multistage sampling was done in which three LGAs were selected from the state;
these L.G.As are Njikoka, Ogbaru and Aguata. Four wards from each of these LGAs
were also selected. A research assistant was blindfolded and he randomly pointed a
number on the table of random numbers and the number was ‘3’. Every third house
was, therefore, entered in each ward to enquire for eligible respondents.
Only women of child bearing age who were present in the study area at the time of the
study were interviewed. Data collection instrument used is a semi-structured, pretested,
interviewer administered questionnaire. Research assistants were recruited
from the primary health centers in the selected wards.
Findings: As much as 53.7% of respondents knew that every child needs
immunization, while 55.1%, 35.1% and 18.2% believed that immunization should be
missed in the event of diarrhea, yellowness of the eyes and fever respectively. Up to
39.3% of women with only primary education missed their immunisation sessions
while 30% of women with tertiary education missed it. Only 23.5% of mothers who
are public/civil servants missed immunisation while 42.6% of mothers who are
farmers missed it. As high as 42% of women in Ogbaru (with very bad terrain) missed
immunisation while 23% of women in Njikoka (semi-urban) missed immunisation.
The study showed no correlation between the mother’s educational level and whether
she missed her child’s immunisation. This does not agree with the finding of National
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Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) 2003; there was a positive correlation
between mothers’ education and the fully immunised child: nationally 31.1% of
children of mothers with secondary education are fully immunised; the figure for
children of mothers with no education is 3.9%.
3
The possible reason why this survey
varied from a previous study in 2003 is that public enlightenment campaigns on
immunisation have been so elaborately utilised in Anambra State that the importance
of immunisation is presently equally known to the illiterate as the literate.
Conclusion: The statistical significance of these compared variables shows that
occupation and geographical location significantly affect utilisation of immunisation
services in Anambra State, therefore, health education promotion and programming
must take into consideration such factors.