Factors affecting childhood vaccination incompletion in children aged 12 to 59 months in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: More children in Ethiopia start and do not complete all vaccinations in the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) recommended for Routine Immunization (RI) vaccines than those who complete their vaccine schedule. This group of defaulter is bigger than the group that has no vaccines. However, both groups of children that have no vaccines and those that have partial vaccination are in similar risk of acquiring vaccine preventable diseases. Objective: This study aimed to assess demographic, socio-economic, environmental and health service factors affecting childhood vaccination incompletion. It also attempted to determine the extent of incomplete vaccination within and between regions in Ethiopia based on EDHS 2011 data. Methods: This study used data about 6,797 children aged 12 to 59 months (mean age of 36 months and standard deviation 13.66 months). Among these children 33.76% were completely immunized while 66.24% were partially vaccinated. Descriptive data analysis, binary logistic, and multilevel logistic regression were employed to analyze the data. Results: The study identified region, wealth index, sex of household head, birth order of a child, awareness about leading a balanced family life, frequency of a mother listening to radio, and prenatal care and assistance from health professionals were statistically significant predictors of being partially immunized. Differences in levels of partial immunization prevailed across regions of the country. Conclusion: Vaccination incompletion was low in children from families with higher wealth quintiles. The likelihood of children being partially vaccinated was significantly associated with mothers’ health care utilization. Exposure to radio programs about vaccination contributed positively to a reduction in partial immunization. A very high number of children from female headed families did not complete vaccination. Key words: expanded program of immunization, logistic regressions, vaccination.