Magnitude of vaccination delay and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in Damot Sore Woreda, Wolaita, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Delaying vaccines make children susceptible to vaccine preventable diseases and play important role in persistence of vaccine preventable diseases. WHO reported that, about 17 million infants did not receive an initial dose of DPT vaccine on recommended age and additional 5.6 million infants are partially vaccinated which made the children susceptible to VPDs worldwide.  The aim of this study was to determine magnitude of vaccination delay and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in Damot Sore Woreda, Wolaita, South Ethiopia.                     

Methods: Community based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 16 to June 30, 2022. A simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants with sample size of 549. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with vaccination delay. Variables in bi-variable logistic regression with P-value <0.25 were candidate variables for multi-variable logistic regression. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to declare significance level.

Results: A total of 529 mothers were participated in the study, making the response rate 96.35%. In this study 224(42.34%) (95% CI 38.18% - 46.61%) children were delayed to receive at least one of vaccines. Children of mothers who have no formal education [AOR = 4.29, (95% CI 1.7 - 10.6)] and who were attended primary school [AOR = 2.97, (95% CI (1.2 - 7.4)]: mothers who delivered at home [AOR = 4.42, (95% CI 2.9- 6.7)] and mothers who have ≥2 children aged <5 years in the house [AOR=2.02, 95% CI 1.1 - 3.7)] were significantly associated with vaccination delay.

Conclusion: Our study showed that, significant number of children delayed to receive studied vaccines on time. Lower level of mothers’ educational status, home delivery and two or more than two under five children living in the households were determinants of vaccination delay. Health professionals would consider about vaccination delay in addition to the coverage, starting from date of birth.

Keywords: - Vaccination Delay, Children, Wolaita, Damot Sore, Ethiopia