ASSESSMENT OF CAUSES OF MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION IN ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

BACK GROUND: - Inadequate level of immunization against child hood diseases remains a significant public health problem in resource poor areas of the globe. Missed opportunities for immunization were some of the main influencing factors identified in different studies done at different regions and time. OBJECTIVE: - try to asses the magnitude of missed opportunities for immunization and try to assess the causes of missed opportunity for immunization in Addis Ababa. METHODS: - cross sectional study conducted in 10 public health center which are currently functional in AddisAbaba.Exit client interview was done for 845 accompanying women of infants 0-1 year of age. Additionally in depth interview for 20 health care providers working in those health centers performed from March, 2009-June, 2009. RRESULT:- proportion of missed opportunity for immunization was 7.5% for children and 30.5% for TT immunization of eligible women having statistically significant association with maternal education, place of delivery and those never married women were more likely missed the opportunity for children and TT immunization. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:-the proportion of missed opportunity for both child and women seems low presumably because of integrated child health service in the health facilities. FMOH, city health authorities and other responsible bodies need to expand access to EPI services in order to increase routine immunization coverage by involving private clinics and providing out reach services in the selected high population concentration and hard to reach areas. Activities to increase maternal motivation, awareness creation and social mobilization should be done. It is recommended to do community based study in order to see the status in the community.