Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Childhood immunization is one of the most cost-effective interventions in health care delivery.
OBJECTIVE:
Prevalence of vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated children (2-5 years) attending Primary Health Care and the possible risk factors for incomplete vaccination among them and to assess mothers’ knowledge about vaccination and finding out if it was associated with incomplete vaccination.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey carried out in three primary health care centers in Khanaqin district/ Diyala Province/ Iraq from the first of March until the end of June /2019. The immunization status of children was obtained from mothers and verified by their vaccination cards and records of vaccinations in the primary health care centers and other information obtained from mothers.
RESULTS:
This study included 242 children with their mothers. Vaccination status; 64.05% of children were vaccinated, 33.47% were partially vaccinated and 2.48% were unvaccinated, and incomplete vaccination was associated with low/poor economic status of the family, children living with one parent or others, long waiting times and poor knowledge of mothers.
CONCLUSION:
Immunization coverage rate fell short for the World Health Organization recommended rate of at least 90%.
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