A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AND KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE and PRACTICE OF MOTHERS REGARDING IMMUNIZATION IN SEEPAT BILASPUR

Objective: To assess immunization coverage in up to 23 mo old children with respect to economic status and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of mothers regarding immunization. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 125 mothers who had children aged grouped between 0-23 mo from 7 fully functional anganwadis. The data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The chi-square test/Fisher exact test was applied, and results were presented in the form of tables. Findings were compared against standards and/or findings from similar studies and discussed. Results: Immunization coverage was found to be 79%. Almost 85% of mothers believe that the vaccine prevents communicable diseases, and 82.4% agree that immunization at birth is important. The majority of mothers (92%) agreed that their children should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Related to the attitude of mothers towards immunization, a maximum (93.6%) percent of mothers believed that even a healthy child should be fully immunized for protection from diseases, and 86% had no fear related to vaccinating their child. More than half (72.8%) of mothers informed that they would contact anganwadi workers for the next dose of vaccine. Almost 62% of mothers agreed to breastfeed their children after an oral vaccine, and 87.2% of mothers said that they would take their children for regular vaccination. No association (P>0.05) was found between the child’s immunization status and the socioeconomic status of the family. Conclusion: The study concludes immunization coverage is 79% and there is a positive attitude towards immunization, but less knowledge is related to the age appropriate vaccine. So services focusing on immunization education and provision need to be improved.