The impact of parental education and socioeconomic status on routine childhood vaccination: An obsevational study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the vaccination status of children less than 5 years and to determine the factorsassociated with low coverage vaccination status.

Methodology: This was a prospective study conducted at the department of pediatrics, Rehman MedicalInstitute Peshawar from 1st January to 31st July 2012. A total of 300 cases were selected attending outpatientdepartment. The parents and guardians were interviewed with a proforma regarding the vaccinationstatus of all children from 1 month to 5 year of age. World Health Organization, Expanded Programmeof Immunization, vaccine schedule was followed. The parents/guardians were asked for vaccination cardsas confirmation of vaccination and failing to do so, the parents/guardians were thoroughly interviewedincluding direct and indirect questioning.

Results: A total of 240 out of 300 (80%) attending outpatient department were vaccinated while 43 (14.3%)were unvaccinated and remaining 17 (5.7%) were partially vaccinated. Ninety children belonged to highsocio economic status (SES), 25 to low and 185 belonged to middle SES. Seventy six out of 240 (31.6%)vaccinated children were from families of high socio economic status. The study revealed that 15 out of27(55.5%) of the illiterate parent's children were either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. One hundredand ninety two (64%) were Pakistani and remaining 108(36%) were Afghani.

Conclusion: The overall rate of routine childhood vaccination remains below international benchmark.The rate of vaccination was significantly better in children of parents from educated and higher socioeconomicclass.