Immunization coverage of children in a semi-urban village panchayat in Nepal, 1985

This research project, funded by the Yale International Committee and in cooperation with UNICEF, Nepal, used a questionnaire to survey and assess the immunization status of children 3 years or younger in a semi-urban panchayat. Mothers of children ranging in age from less than 1 month to 3 years were questioned both about immunization status of their children and their own use of health care and specific sources of information. 54% (124/228) of the children had received at least one vaccine and only 4% (10/228) had full coverage with the recommended vaccines (3 doses of DPT and TOPV, one dose of measles and BCG). The mean number of vaccinations for males was significantly greater than that for females (2.12 vs 1.39, P = 0.007, t = 2.80). Male children were twice as likely to have received vaccines as females (76/122, 62% vs 48/106, 45%; Odds Ratio = 2.00). Children born at a hospital were more likely than those born at home to have been vaccinated (23/34, 68% vs 101/194, 52%; P = 0.05, x2 = 12.52, d.f. = 2). Most mothers obtained health information from neighbors (38%), radio (22%), or health workers (18%), and 85% of the children were born at home; the majority (164/228, 72%) of the women received assistance during childbirth, 28% of the total reported self delivery. More than 70% of the women felt that vaccinations were good preventive measures. The study results suggest that health education about immunization efforts should be focused on women and these efforts should be intensified.