The Mothers Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward Immunization Against Poliomyelitis Among Children up to 5 Years Age in Dar Saad District

Abstract

 This work was conducted with the principal objective of contributing to the study of the accomplishment of the immunization coverage against poliomyelitis in Dar Sad district, Aden Governorate, the knowledge, attitude and practice related to this problem and the socioeconomic factors influencing it. A sample of 180 children under the age of five years was studied using stratified, cluster and random sampling methods. A closed type questionnaire was used and filled by the researcher during the interview of the mother of each selected child.  An over all evaluation of the accomplishment of the immunization programs in Dar Sad district was made. The results showed a coverage level of 85% receiving complete vaccination, 12% receiving incomplete vaccination and 3% without vaccination. The drop out rate was 12.6% .The main causes for discontinuation and not doing the vaccination, and related factors to these problems were identified. Some factors were determined as strong relationship between the educational level of both the mother and the father and the immunization coverage of children. Other influencing factors were; giving credit to rumors, no faith in immunization and ignorance of the importance of returning for the second and the third dose, prevalence of false contraindication to vaccinations among some mothers. Recommendations for increasing the rate of vaccination coverage and decreasing the drop out rate were proposed in order to improve the immunization against poliomyelitis and other types of vaccines in the future and meet the goals stated by the World Health Organization.