Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to examine det
erminants of infant immunization coverage in
Migori County; Nyanza. Migori-Nyanza is the regions
of disparities that continue to register low
rates of immunization coverage in Kenya. The covera
ge rate was measured against Kenya’s and
World Health Organization target percent for achiev
ing herd immunity and improved child
survival. Immunization coverage rates are accepted
as an indicator of the performance and
adequacy of a Country’s Health Service Systems. A d
escriptive study of 446 households sampling
units was conducted in January 2013. The households
were randomly selected from four demand
areas. Methods of data collection were: interviewer
administered questionnaires, key informant
interviews and homogeneous focus group discussions.
Respondents were mothers aged 19- 45
years with a child less than five years of age. The
results indicated that fully immunized infants
were 70%; a fully immunized infant was one who rece
ived one dose of BCG, four doses of Oral
Polio Vaccine (OPV), three pentavalents, and one do
se of measles vaccine before reaching one
year of age. The results further indicated that:- 8
0% of infants had their birth polio and Bacillus-
Calmette Guerin (BCG) within the first two weeks of
life, 78% 3
rd
pentavalent and 4
th
polio at 14
weeks of life and 77% measles at 9 months. Measles
and third dose of pentavalent immunizations
are used as indicators of a fully immunized child.
The determinants of immunization coverage that
were identified from the study included: means of t
ransport to health facilities, religious affiliatio
n,
home delivery and not attending postnatal clinics,
mothers’ lack of knowledge on dangers of
childhood diseases and hostile attitudes shown by s
ervice providers to the mothers. In conclusion
there was under coverage of immunization in the reg
ion. The recommendation was that the
health service providers need to in- cooperate both
outreach and mobile immunization services
into their current static module.
