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Socio-demographic disparities in basic under-two immunization coverage: insights from the 2016 Malawi demographic and

Ololade Julius Baruwa1, Monica Ewomazino Akokuwebe2, Oluwafemi John Adeleye3

  • 1Centre for Social Sciences Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa. baruwaololade@gmail.com.

BMC Public Health
|March 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Childhood immunization coverage in Malawi is low, with significant district and socio-demographic disparities. Interventions must address these gaps to improve child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Childhood immunization is crucial for preventing infectious diseases and reducing child mortality.
  • This study investigates disparities in basic immunization coverage among children aged 12-23 months in Malawi.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine variations in basic immunization coverage across Malawian districts.
  • To explore socio-demographic factors associated with immunization disparities in children aged 12-23 months.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study using 2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) data.
  • Analysis of 3,248 children aged 12-23 months.
  • Multivariate logistic regression and choropleth mapping to assess coverage and disparities across 28 districts.

Main Results:

  • Only 77.1% of children received basic immunization, with coverage varying significantly by district.
  • Highest coverage (84.9-90.7%) in Mwanza and Chiradzulu; lowest (65.3-68.0%) in Ntchisi, Blantyre, and Machinga.
  • Maternal factors like high wealth index, rural residence, marriage, and secondary education were associated with higher immunization likelihood.

Conclusions:

  • Low basic immunization coverage and socio-demographic disparities exist in Malawi.
  • Tailored interventions, including educational campaigns and region-specific strategies, are needed to improve immunization rates.
Abstract

Keywords:
Demographic and health surveyImmunizationMalawiSocio-demographicVaccination

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