VACCINATION COVERAGE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN AGED 12-23 MONTHS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN NAROK COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Background: The utilization of childhood vaccines is still below the universal coverage. This has led to occurrences of vaccine preventable diseases. This study examined the vaccination coverage and associated factors among children aged 12-23 months in Narok County, Kenya.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that entailed determination of vaccination coverage among 378 children. A stratified sampling technique was used to sample children in the County. Statistical analysis was done using STATA. Descriptive statistics was presented in form of variables’ frequencies and percentages. Inferential statistics involved univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Variables that were significant at univariate regression analysis were included in multivariate analysis regression model.
Results: The full vaccination coverage was 251(66.4%). Subtly, 362 (95.8%) children received Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG)_vaccine, 341 (90.21%) Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) dose zero, 344 (91.1%) OPV1, 353 (93.4%) OPV2, 326 (86.2%) OPV 3, Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) 322 (86.2%), 300 (79.4%) for Measles Virus Containing Vaccine (MCV) dose one and 76 (61.8%) for MCV2. The factors significantly associated with vaccination coverage were at least secondary education level (p<0.001), formal employment (p<0.001), good facility-readiness to vaccinate (p=0.006) and ≥4 Antenatal Care (ANC) visits (p=0.004).
Conclusion and recommendations: The findings indicated suboptimal vaccination coverage below the target for universal coverage. Encouraging pregnant women to attend at least 4 ANC visits, capacity boosting of facilities’ vaccine financing, monitoring and forecasting improves availability of vaccines and reduce missed opportunities for vaccination.