THE EFFECTS OF IMMUNIZATION AS IT AFFECTS CHILDREN HEALTH

THE EFFECTS OF IMMUNIZATION AS IT AFFECTS CHILDREN HEALTH

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Study’s Background

Childhood immunization is regarded as one of the most significant public health achievements of all time. World Health Organization (WHO) (2011). Immunization rates have risen rapidly in recent years, with more children immunized than in prior years. Immunization is predicted to save two to three million lives worldwide each year (WHO, 2013). Diseases that once afflicted millions of children around the world have since been eradicated, as proven by the abolition of smallpox in 1977 (Public Health Agency of Nigeria [PHAN], 20009).

Childhood immunization is the process of establishing immunity through the use of a vaccine. It is thought to be crucial for increasing child survival. This is due to the fact that more than 10 million children in underdeveloped countries die each year due to a lack of access to effective interventions such as immunization, which could combat prevalent and avoidable childhood illnesses (WHO, 2014).

Despite the fact that nearly three-quarters of the world’s kid population has received the necessary vaccines, only half of the children in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to basic immunization. Furthermore, only one in every twenty children in poorer, remote areas of developing countries has access to vaccination (UNICEF, 2013). Immunization against Vaccination Preventable Diseases (VPDs) through the expanded programme of immunization (EPI) is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions available (UNICEF 2012), contributing significantly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 (UNICEF 2012, World Bank, 2013).

In 1974, the extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) was formed to combat six vaccine-preventable diseases. Diphtheria, polio, TB, measles, pertussis, and tetanus are among them. DPT3 worldwide coverage was 78 percent in 2003, with around 27 million children not vaccinated. South Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries accounted for 9.9 million and 9.6 million of the uninsured children, respectively. Most of these nations’ efforts to reach immunization targets are hampered by a poorly functioning health-care delivery system (WHO, 2015). As a result, children living in distant locations and border areas find it difficult to receive booster doses of polio and measles during national or sub-national immunization days.

Vaccination is administered on a routine and outreach basis in Nigeria. According to the Expanded Programme on Immunization, a routine immunization schedule for children in Nigeria is provided beginning at birth and is completed by all children before the age of one year (WHO and UNICEF, 2013). BCG and OPV0 are given at birth, while three doses of OPV and pentavalent vaccines (which protect against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B disease) are given at four-week intervals; at six, ten, and fourteen weeks, and measles vaccine is given at nine months (WHO, 2012). With the exception of polio 1 (67%) and polio 2 (52%), less than half of children have gotten all of the recommended immunizations (NPC, 2013). Furthermore, more than three times as many urban children as rural children are fully vaccinated (25% vs. 7%, respectively) (NPC, 2013). It is thus critical to investigate the parameters related with full child immunization in Nigeria in terms of parental acceptability in order to improve the quality of life for these children.

As an essential part of professional behavior for practice, health care providers have a responsibility to advocate childhood immunization and ensuring the information offered to the public is evidence-based and accurate (Plastow, 2012). The socioeconomic status of parents (especially education and wealth level) greatly influences their behaviors, which in turn influences health-seeking behavior and, ultimately, child survival (Becler et al., 2013).

The aforesaid definitions compelled the researcher to select parents’ acceptability of immunization in Government Hospitals and Clinics, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, FCT.

Problem Expression

Immunization is a primary approach to reduce child morbidity and mortality from common vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). According to international comparison data, Nigeria has one of the lowest vaccine coverage rates in the world (UNICEF, 2007). According to the 2008 National Immunization Schedule, Jigawa had fewer than 1% fully immunized children, Yobe had 15%, Zamfara had 1.6%, and Katsina had 8.3%. As of 2008, just 23% of Nigerian children aged 12 to 23 months had received all recommended immunizations, which included one dose of BCG and measles and three doses of DPT and polio (NPC, 2008). According to the same survey, 38% of Nigerian youngsters had not got any vaccines. As a result, thousands of youngsters die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Nigeria was identified as having the highest incidence of poliovirus cases in the world in 2009 (WHO, 2010). Routine immunization coverage against Polio and other VPDs fell short of national targets (WHO Nigeria, 2010). There are numerous explanations behind Nigeria’s low rates. Given the protective effectiveness of immunization and the observed low immunization coverage in Nigeria, it is critical to identify the factors influencing full child immunization among 12-23 month children in Nigeria in order to reduce child mortality and morbidity.

The Purpose of the Research

The research’s specific goal is to:

1. Determine the parameters related with full child immunization in the Jaji community of the Igabi Local Government Area.

2. Determine the parents’ willingness to receive immunization.

3. Identify the strategies intended to address immunization issues.

Research Issues

When conducting research of this magnitude, research questions are critical. These are some examples:

1. What factors influence full child immunization in the Jaji community, Igabi Local Government Area?

2. What is the study area’s impression of parent acceptability of immunization?

3. What solutions are being developed to address vaccination issues?

The Importance of the Research

The findings of this study will be utilized to produce recommendations for health care providers to support, respect, and educate parents about immunization. This study can inform health care workers’ education and practice.

The health sectors at Government Hospitals and Clinics, the Jaji community, and the Igabi Local Government Area would gain since it will serve as the foundation for and strengthen immunization programs.

Households in Government Hospitals and Clinics, Jaji village, Igabi Local Government Area would benefit from the immunization of their children against six deadly diseases.

This great goal will help government hospitals and clinics, the Jaji community, the Igabi Local Government Area, and the entire country.

The Study’s Scope and Limitations

The scope focused on the impacts of immunization on children’s health in the Jaji community, Igabi Local Government Area.

Within the study areas, it is restricted to nurses and parents.

The researcher’s main obstacles during this research project were a lack of time and financial constraints.