Factors influencing participation in national immunization days in Kumasi, Ghana

A study of the factors influencing participation in national immunization days (NID) in Kumasi, Ghana was carried out between the April and June of 1999. Polio-immunization coverage during NID was assessed among children aged < 5 years; > 90% of these children had received polio vaccinations on both of the two previous NID. The mothers who participated most in the NID tended to be those who were better educated and Ghanaian. Mothers who were salaried workers participated fully in NID. Radio and television played a major role in public education about NID, whereas the attitude of health workers was a strong factor that prevented many mothers/caregivers from bringing their children to be immunized. The coverage of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was assessed in children aged 12-23 months; nearly 70% of these children were fully immunized. BCG had the highest coverage (97.0%) and measles the lowest (79%). Again, full coverage of the children of mothers who had been educated beyond primary level was higher than that of the other children (75.9% v. 65.2%), and coverage of the children of Ghanaian women was higher than that of the others (70.8%. v. 50.0%). Although the mothers/caregivers raised concerns about the costs of the routine immunizations, these charges apparently did not prevent them from taking their children to be immunized. NID complement the routine EPI-associated work in Ghana, increasing overall polio-immunization coverage. The results of this study will be used to improve the overall performance of immunization programmes, especially in the Kumasi metropolis. Hopefully, sustained, increased polio-immunization coverage will contribute positively towards polio eradication in Ghana.