Perception about child vaccination and its determinants among caregivers in rural Northeastern Ethiopia

Despite increased global immunization, many children in developing countries remain unvaccinated. Effective communication with parents is crucial to overcoming barriers and improving vaccination coverage.

To examine caregivers' perception towards child vaccination and identify factors associated with incomplete vaccination status (as an indicator of vaccine hesitancy) among children 12-36 months of age in Tehuledere Woreda, South Wollo Zone, North East Ethiopia.

An explanatory sequential mixed method was used. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to November 30, 2019 with a sampling technique. A total of eight hundred twenty-four mothers/caregivers of children aged 12-36 months were systematically selected and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression and content analysis were performed.

A total of 596 (72.3%) of the children were completely vaccinated. Widowed mothers (AOR = 7.3, 95% CI = 2.2,24), home delivery practice (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.8,10), long walking time to health facility (AOR = 9.5, 95% CI = 3.2,27), use of community as vaccine information source (AOR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.7,9.6), occurrence of child death in the family (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2,6.8) and mothers' health seeking behavior (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.1,5.4) were found to be associated with incomplete vaccination.

Acceptance and refusal of child vaccination reflected factors including perceived benefits of vaccine and social environment. Encouraging mothers to attend proper antenatal care and to utilize family planning programs is recommended to improve vaccination status of children in the rural communities. Community awareness programs also should be scaled up by incentivizing community health workers.