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FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DROP OUT IN IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE AMONG CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS IN BUWENGE SUB-COUNTY, JINJA DISTRICT
Introduction: As countries around the world strive to achieve set targets in sustainable development goals (SDGs), addressing 100% immunization coverage in all countries globally will accelerate progress towards these goals. Uganda like many other sub-Saharan African Countries is lagging behind in most sustainable development goals (SDG) including SDG three which seeks to ensure health and wellbeing for all people. The gains in immunization coverage rates have diminished in recent years (Ministry of Health 2018). As of 2016, 8% of mothers/children care takers do not perceive immunization as important. The people’s attitudes towards immunization remain low in Uganda however; knowledge of immunizable diseases is good. This study aimed at assessing the factors contributing to frequent immunization dropouts among caretakers/mothers of children below five years in Buwenge sub-county, Jinja district. Methods: This was a cross sectional study employing quantitative methods of data collection. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect data from 98 study respondents using semi structured questionnaires. Data was entered in epi-data and exported to stata version 14 for analysis. Results were presented in form of tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Results: Majority 72.4% (71/98) of the study respondent knew about immunization/ vaccination, mainly from mass media 60.2% (59/71). Less than half 37.8% (37/98) strongly agreed that immunization was important, 32.7% (32/98) agreed that immunization benefits outway negative effects and 27.6% (27/98) strongly agreed that they can take their children for immunization for free. More than half 58.2% (57/98) of the respondents had never taken children for immunization and half 50.0% (49/98) reported to have ever missed immunizing their children. Conclusions: There were generally high knowledge levels of study respondents regarding immunization. However, study respondents didn’t know the effects of not vaccinating children. There were relatively positive attitudes towards immunization. Regarding practices, study participants had bad practices regarding immunization, where 61.2% didn’t finish vaccinating children and over half had not taken children for immunization.
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