Socio-demographic factors affecting immunization status of pre-school children in jamshedpur

Context: Immunization coverage of pre-school children remains sub-optimal in some socio-demographic subgroups, more so for newer vaccines.
Aims: To determine the immunization status of pre-school children in Jamshedpur.
Settings and Design: School based cross-sectional study,
Methods and Material: Immunization status of 300 children, up to 5 years of age in one year period, sub-grouped on socio-demographic variables using cluster sampling and survey methodology, was analysed.
Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test, p value, GraphPadinStat software
Results: Overall immunization status - 80% fully immunized, 20% partially immunized. Children of mothers, who were post-graduates and professionals, were protected 100%. Immunization coverage of 88.46% and 81.07% was observed in children from socio-economic class of I and II, respectively. Children with malnutrition of grade I and grade II had full immunization coverage of 66.67% and 64.71% respectively. Coverage of various vaccines were, BCG 94%, OPV-0 81%, DPT-1/OPV-1 96.67%, DPT-2/OPV-2 96.33%, DPT-3/OPV-3 94%, measles vaccine 92.33%, booster DPT/OPV vaccine 88%, MMR vaccine 82.67%, chickenpox vaccine 61.67%, hepatitis-A vaccine 59.67%, typhoid vaccine 52%, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 9.33% and rotavirus vaccine 5.33%. Children with co-morbid conditions had full immunization coverage of 52.94%.
Conclusions: Lower socioeconomic status, low maternal education levels, higher birth order, female gender and co-morbid conditions were significantly associated with low vaccination coverage.