Fawad Khurshid, Maryam Imam, Muhammad Zeeshan.
Epidemiological Determinants for Partial and Non-immunization Status among Children under 5 years attending secondary care hospital in District Rajanpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;12(2):504-10.

Background: EPI schedule immunizes children for nine diseases namely Tuberculosis, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, Pneumonia and Measles starting from birth till 23 months of age. Routine immunization coverage in Pakistan is 65% while in province Punjab it is 57.5%. Due to various reasons Pakistan has shown little progress in achieving the immunization coverage of 90% by 2015. This study was carried out to assess the immunization status in children less than 5 years of age and identify the factors for partial and non-immunization in district RajanPur . Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2013 at the pediatric outpatient department of Tehsil Headquarter Hospital, District Rajanpur. After calculating the sample size, children less than 5 years were included by systematic random sampling from the register enrolling every 3rd child . Data was collected through a questionnaire and vaccination rates along with frequencies of risk factors were calculated. Results: Among 288 children, 161 (55.9 %) were male. Two hundred and seven (71.9% ) were fully immunized according to EPI schedule. Thirty-two (11.1% ) were partially immunized and 49( 17% ) were not immunized. EPI cards were available with 209(87.4%) children . One-hundred and 58(66.1% ) were immunized at centers . Main reasons for partial immunization were side effects with previous vaccines 8 (25%), busy parents 8 (25 %) . The major reasons for non-immunization were lack of Lady Health workers visits 21 (42.9% ), ill child 15 (30% ), afraid of side effects 8 (6.35 %) and bad experience with vaccination 8 (16.3% ). Conclusion: Outreach sessions for immunization need to be carried out on regular basis. Social mobilization activities for parent’s awareness about vaccination like community awareness sessions and display of posters are recommended.

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