An Evaluation of Knowledge and Attitude towards Routine Immunization among Caregivers/Mothers of Under-Five Years Children in Gwagwalada Area Council Abuja-FCT

Abstract

Background: Immunization is one of the most important Public Health Interventions, its full potential is yet to be reached. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined immunization as the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. The role of these vaccines is to help in stimulating the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Immunization could be routine or supplemental. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was employed and a facility-based cluster sampling technique was conducted, using a 25-item questionnaire that was modified and adopted by the researcher. Caregivers with at least one under-five child were targeted. Data collected over a 4 week period was analyzed using SPSS version 21. A total of 170 respondents gave informed consent and participated in the study. Results: Approximately 54.1% have good knowledge of routine immunization. Also 96% was revealed to have good attitude towards routine immunization. Immunization Age and level of education of caregiver was found to be significantly associated with knowledge (P-value<0.05). None of the socio-demographic characteristics have a significant association with attitude (p- value>0.05). However there is a significant association between attitude and knowledge (P-value< 0.05). Conclusion: It is therefore suggested that continuous health education advocacies by health workers on benefits of routine immunization to aid community mobilization and participation are measures to improve knowledge, attitude of mothers towards routine immunization.