Risk factors associated with non-vaccination in Gambian children: a population-based cohort study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Child Health

Background:

• Childhood immunisation is critical for preventing infectious diseases.
• Low vaccine coverage remains a challenge in many rural settings globally.
• Understanding risk factors for unvaccinated children is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with unvaccinated children in rural Gambia.
• To inform public health strategies aimed at increasing vaccine uptake.

Main Methods:

• Prospective demographic surveillance in The Gambia's Upper River Region.
• Real-time recording of immunisations for children born between 2012 and 2016.
• Logistic regression analysis to determine associations between risk factors and unvaccinated status at 10, 15, and 24 months.

Main Results:

• 5% of infants were unvaccinated at 10 months of age.
• Unvaccinated status was linked to not residing with either parent (aOR 2.26) and parents not being household heads (aOR 1.29).
• Children experiencing immigration (aOR 2.78) and belonging to non-Mandinka ethnicities showed higher odds of being unvaccinated.

Conclusions:

• Family characteristics significantly influence childhood vaccination status in rural Gambia.
• Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive and context-specific interventions to boost immunisation rates.
• Addressing socioeconomic and familial factors can improve vaccine coverage and child health outcomes.