Immunization of children under 5 years: Mother's knowledge, attitude, and practice in a rural community

Background: Mothers' knowledge, attitude and practice toward childhood vaccination is the most adequate tool for prevention of infectious disease epidemics. A study on the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding immunization will help in our understanding of the variables that influence parental decision-making regarding immunization. Aims and Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding immunization in mothers of under 5 children in rural area in Bantwal Taluk in Mangalore. Material and Methods: This was a cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted on 486 mothers of under 5 children in a rural area in Mangalore from November 2021 – January 2022. Data was collected using pretested semi structured questionnaires. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, chi square test and outcomes expressed as frequency, proportions and percentages. Results: 99.8% mothers were aware that vaccination prevents children from infectious disease and its complications. 23.2% of the mothers had the misconception that multiple doses of the same vaccine were not important for their child's immunity. Vaccination campaigns to vaccinate their children were not considered important by 4.4% mothers. A significalnt proportion (26.3%) believed that multiple vaccinations at the same time would have a negative impact on their child. Most of the mothers were of the opinion that childhood vaccination was important and vaccination was more beneficial than harmful. 77% were of the opinion that the child could not get infected by the disease once vaccinated. 99.6% of the children were vaccinated at birth and 98.8% of the children were completely immunized. Optional vaccines were not given to majority of the children. Conclusions: Majority of the mothers were aware about the need for vaccination, had positive attitude towards the same and satisfactory immunization practices. Most of the children had completed immunization for their age, which in turn reflects on the adequate knowledge among the mothers.