Diphtheria Vaccination Coverage and Correlation With Multidimensional Poverty Among Children in Nigeria

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Nigeria faces recurrent diphtheria outbreaks, highlighting challenges in achieving adequate vaccine-preventative measures.
• Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccination coverage is a key indicator of child immunization success and public health system strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of DPT vaccination coverage among Nigerian children aged 12-23 months.
• To examine the correlation between the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and DPT vaccination coverage across Nigerian states.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)/National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS) data for DPT coverage.
• Employed National Bureau of Statistics data for state-level multidimensional poverty index (MPI).
• Conducted correlational analysis using SPSS V.28 to determine the relationship between MPI and DPT coverage.

Main Results:

• Overall DPT vaccination coverage is suboptimal at 56%, with significant disparities between Northern and Southern states.
• Northern states exhibit lower DPT coverage and higher rates of partial vaccination compared to Southern states.
• A statistically significant negative correlation (r = -0.534, p < 0.001) was found between MPI and DPT full vaccination coverage, indicating that higher poverty is associated with lower vaccination rates.

Conclusions:

• Despite efforts, DPT vaccination coverage in Nigeria remains low, particularly in Northern regions.
• Multidimensional poverty is a significant barrier to achieving high DPT vaccination coverage.
• Implementing targeted strategies to improve vaccination rates in high-poverty states is crucial for disease prevention.