Knowledge Level of Caregivers on Immunization for Children (under-5 Years) in Nigeria
Ngozi G. Orofuke
Department of Community Medicine, Delta State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Delta State, Nigeria and Department of Public and Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.
Ayirioritse Peace Ighosewe
Department of Paediatrics, Delta State Specialist Hospital, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
Uzochukwu Ofonakara
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Christiana I. Elusoji
Department of Nursing Sciences, Benson Idahosa’s University, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Charles C. Ofilia
Department of Public and Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.
Michael O. Otutua
Department of Public and Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, Nigeria.
Eugene O. Ohanme *
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Families, especially mothers are the major role players with regard to their children’s immunization. This study empirically Knowledge Level of Caregivers on Immunization for Children under-5 years in Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: A well self-structured questionnaires drawn from caregivers of under-5 children who were disposed to immunization in the nine (9) local government areas in Delta North senatorial district was used. However, the questionnaires were distributed to 3843 caregivers across the Nine (9) local government areas under study but the researcher was able to successfully retrieve 3624, representing 94% of the sample size.. Two major hypotheses were tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) regression analysis with the aid of SPSS.
Results: The data showed that 3030, representing about 85.0% of the respondents were mothers while the remaining 544 (15.0%) were male (fathers) with under-5 children in Delta North Senatorial District The findings shows that the knowledge level of caregivers, and enablers are respectively statistically significant in the immunization of under-5 children in Delta North senatorial district of Delta State, Nigeria.
Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that for the immunization to becomes successfully performed caregivers must have basic or advanced education and training to avoid the an increased mortality rate of death to children below five (5) years old.
Keywords: Caregivers, children's immunization, the national programme on immunization