Immunisation-related Knowledge, Attitudes and Promotive Practices among Mothers in an Urban Primary Health Care Centre in South-East Nigeria: a Call for Improved Clinic-based Education

Abstract

Background: Nigeria is among the five countries accounting for half of the world’s unimmunised children. Maternal knowledge and attitude play key roles in uptake and timeliness of routine childhood vaccination. This study assessed immunisation-related knowledge, attitudes and promotive practices among mothers in Abakaliki Ebonyi State Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 117 mothers with children aged 0-23 months attending a Primary Health Care Centre in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 20 with a p value of ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Over half (55.6%) of the respondents were aged 26-35years while 47% had secondary school education. Majority (91.5%) had previously vaccinated their children, but only 31.7% knew the dosing of polio vaccine. Less than half (42%) of the mothers had adequate knowledge about routes of vaccine administration. About half (49.7%) had adequate knowledge about the children’s next vaccination appointments. Most (94%) considered immunisation important in preventing childhood diseases with up to 95% of them willing to bring their children for immunisation. Only 57.3% were satisfied with the adequacy of immunisation-related information received from the clinic. Majority (81.2%) were timely in accessing immunisation for their babies. Educational status (P=0.035) and child’s age (P=0.008) were associated with knowledge and practice of immunisation respectively.
Conclusion: Mothers in this study had good immunisation-related practices and positive attitude towards immunisation. Although majority had good knowledge, some knowledge gaps were identified. We recommend improved maternal education and content of clinic-based education on immunisation.