Assessment of reasons and factors affecting childhood immunization defaulters in Saladdin province, Iraq

Abstract

Background:
More than two million mortalities of children worldwide are delayed through effective immunization yearly.  This study was conducted to 
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identify the reasons and factors affecting the immunization defaulting. Subjects and method:
 A cross sectional study was conducted in all the primary health care districts in Saladdin province between July – November 2019, caretakers of  (359)  children  were  interviewed,  and  data  collected  via  self- administered questionnaire to their parents. 
Results:
There were (274) defaulters and (85) non-defaulters with the defaulters having higher mean age for mothers and fathers than non-defaulters. The statistically significant factors associated with immunization defaulters were  the  maternal  education,  residency,  distance  to  PHCC, socioeconomic status, ANC state and family size. The most common reasons  for  defaulting  were  busy  parents  forgetting  the  date  of vaccination, child or caregiver illness, long distance to nearest PHCC and no sufficient parents' knowledge about schedule. 
Conclusion:
Children born to older parents, illiterate mothers, living in rural distant areas or living in big or poorer families with poor ANC appear to have higher defaulting rates.