Determinants of immunisation coverage in Butere-Mumias district, Kenya

R M Omutanyi1, M A Mwanthi

  • 1Nairobi Hospital School of Nursing, P.O. Box 30026, Nairobi, Kenya.

Insights

Low immunisation coverage in Butere-Mumias district is linked to factors like education, distance to facilities, and maternal knowledge. Addressing these barriers is crucial to reduce child mortality from preventable diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Butere-Mumias district exhibits poor immunisation coverage rates, as indicated by Kenya Expanded Programme of Immunisation reports.
  • Understanding the determinants of low immunisation uptake is critical for improving child health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key factors contributing to suboptimal immunisation coverage among children under five years in the Butere-Mumias district.
  • To inform targeted interventions aimed at increasing childhood immunisation rates.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed.
  • Data was collected from mothers in the Butere-Mumias district.

Main Results:

  • Immunisation coverage in the district was found to be 35%.
  • Significant factors influencing coverage included maternal education level (80% primary, 20% secondary+), long distances to health facilities, poor road conditions, maternal age, and knowledge/attitude towards immunisation.

Conclusions:

  • Low maternal education, geographical barriers (long distances, poor roads), limited knowledge about immunisation, and inadequate healthcare staff contribute to low immunisation coverage.
  • Interventions addressing these identified factors are necessary to reduce child mortality associated with non-immunisation.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Malaria01:29

Malaria

Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence01:20

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...