[Knowledge And Practice Attitude Of Mothers Regarding Routine Immunization, Comparative Study]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Routine immunization is crucial for preventing vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Understanding maternal knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination is essential for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare maternal knowledge and attitudes regarding vaccination practices in urban versus rural settings.
• To identify disparities in vaccine understanding between urban and rural mothers.

Main Methods:

• A comparative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over three months (October-December 2022).
• The study involved mothers or guardians of children attending routine vaccination appointments in urban and rural health areas.

Main Results:

• Urban mothers (72%) had a better definition of vaccination compared to rural mothers (43%).
• Awareness of Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) target diseases was higher in urban (88%) than rural (55%) areas.
• Knowledge of the vaccination schedule was significantly lower in rural (12%) compared to urban (31%) areas.
• A majority in both areas considered it important to complete missed immunizations and seek care for post-immunization symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced maternal knowledge and positive attitudes towards vaccination are vital for protecting children against preventable diseases.
• Targeted educational interventions may be necessary to improve vaccination knowledge in rural populations.