FACTORS INFLUENCING UTILISATION OF IMMUNISATION SERVICES IN AKINYELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OYO STATE

Abstract

Improving coverage of immunisation is a key component of programmes for reducing childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite several resources committed, Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) had low immunisation coverage of 28% of OPV-3 as at October 2007 when the study was conducted. The factors contributing to these problems were yet to be fully explored. This study was therefore designed to assess the factors influencing utilisation of immunisation services in Akinyele LGA, Oyo State. This descriptive study involved random sampling of 500 mothers of children under 5 years from Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in all of the 12 wards of the LGA. Data were collected using validated questionnaire. These services consisted of availability of vaccines, adequate manpower, maintenance of cold-chain, awareness and advocacy among others. Also, six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with the nursing mothers and caregivers. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test was used to analyse the quantitative data at p≤0.5 while information obtained through FGDs data were subjected to content analysis. The respondents’ mean age was 29.6±7.6 years. About 43% of the respondents had secondary school education. Majority (95.4%) of the respondents had heard about childhood immunisation. The percentage of respondents whose children had completed their children’s immunisation, those that did not complete and those that did not receive immunisation at all were 28.0%, 64.0% and 8.0% respectively. Prominent sources of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) immunisation information among those ever used respondents were Primary Health Centres (62.2%), State Hospital (27.4%), Mobile Clinic (24.1%) and tertiary health institutions (5.2%). Utilisation of immunisation services according to the respondents’ level of education was non-formal (54.3%), Arabic (60.0%), primary (57.7%), secondary (71.8%) and tertiary education (80.8%). The main sources of information on completion of immunisation schedule were immunisation card (75.5%), information from health workers (56.2%), mass media (29.2%) and neighbours/family members (23.3%). The major reasons adduced by the 64.0% of respondents for non-completion of immunisation schedules were report sickness of the children (45.7%) and forgetfulness of the mothers (26.8%). Fear of side effects and religious beliefs were responsible for non-acceptance of immunisation by the respondents who did not receive immunization at all. The respondents who took part in the FGD said the major reasons for not receiving full immunisation were fear of side effects, lack of presence of health workers during immunisation. Despite the high percentage of children that received immunisation services, nonchalant attitude by mothers, fear of side effects, religious beliefs and level of education are the major factors that influenced the utilisation of immunisation services. Health education strategies such as public enlightenment, community mobilization and advocacy may be needed to address the problem.