Caregiver Related Missed Opportunities for Childhood Immunization in Kampala Uganda

Introduction:

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 may not be achieved in Uganda despite government and other stakeholders investment in health services, in support of reduction of child mortality and morbidity. One of the weak points has been failure of some parents and caregivers to take children to receive free childhood immunization according to a standard EPI schedule.

Objectives:

To identify care giver related reasons for missing of under-1 year childhood immunizations and identify health system related reasons.

Methodology:

Purposive and observational looking out for unimmunized over-year old children.

Results:

Respondents interviewed were fathers 17(21%), mothers 25(31%), and other care givers 38(47.5%). They had brought children with malnutrition (30), tuberculosis (20), while the other 30 had various combinations.

All respondents denied having had anyone coming to their homes to remind them about immunizing their babies- 80(100%). 28 (35%) reported  baby had been born at home and was not taken for care at the health facilities. 60 (75%) placed responsibility of the child’s missed immunization on the other  father 10(12.5%) mother 50(62.5%), while  20 (25% ) said they did not know that the child was not immunized. Long distances and lack of transport to the health center was mentioned 30(37.5%), lack of vaccine at the health center 27(33.7%) and absence of vaccinators at the health units was 22(27.5%). Loss of both parents was15 (18.7%) caregivers, cultural unacceptability of immunization 10(12.5%), fear to be blamed for defaulting or loss of child card by 10(12.5%). Other  reasons were economic activity of parents/caregivers looking for survival money 7(8.8%), and perceiving no value in immunization 5(6.5%). A few caregivers were street children 3 (3.7%).

Conclusion:

Immunization is a simple and free procedure  that can reduce the high mortality and morbidity levels.

 

There is need for comprehensive knowledge targeting parents, care takers and community members on immunization.