KNOWLEDGE AND UPTAKE OF CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER FIVE YEARS IN KAFIN HAUSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT Although childhood immunization is considered important for improving child survival, most morbidity and mortality in children are due to vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and tetanus. Globally, immunization coverage has increased during the past decade, but in developing countries including Nigeria, the coverage is still unacceptably low. It is therefore important to recognize the factors that are associated with full child immunization in Nigeria with a view to reduce child mortality in Nigeria and also to make the life of these children better. The study used the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey children’s data. A total of 4,520 children aged between 12-23 months delivered by 4,520 women aged 15-49 years formed the analysis sample. The dependent variable was full child immunization constructed from a number of variables on uptake of the various WHO recommended immunizations (coded 0 – No and 1 – Yes). Binary logistic regression model was used to identify the critical determinants of full child immunization status. Results show that only about 51% of the children received full immunization. The significant determinants of full child immunization were religion, residence and place of delivery, antenatal visit, mother’s occupation, mother’s education, as well as mother’s age, household wealth and region of residence. The result indicate that, full childhood immunization coverage is fully but had increased in Kafin Hausa LGA Jigawa State. It recommend among others that the children in households with low income, single, and also lack formal education where less likely to be fully immunized these group also need more awareness and access to healthcare services in order to get their child fully immunized.