Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: October | Volume: 6 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 40-45
Influence of Education and Socioeconomic Status on Immunisation Status of Children in Rural Areas of Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka
Shabnam Syed1, Supriya Kushwah2, Prakash R M Saldanha3, Anitha S Prabhu4
1Junior Resident, 2Assistant Professor, 3Professor and HOD, 4Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore.
Corresponding Author: Shabnam Syed
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
- To assess the immunisation status of children aged 6 to 48 months residing in Bantwal Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka
- To assess the educational and socioeconomic status of the parents of the study population and to determine its effect on the immunisation status of the children
Materials and Methods: Four-hundred and sixty children aged 6 month to 48 months who attended health camps held in 7 villages of Bantwal Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district were included in the study. The data regarding age, sex, religion, immunisation status, optional vaccination, socioeconomic status, mothers and fathers education was collected from parents using a semi-structured questionnaire using interview method and from the immunisation cards. A child who had missed any of the vaccinations according to the National Immunisation Program was classified as partially immunised while those who had not received any vaccination or those who had received only BCG and Pulse Polio vaccines were classified as non- immunised.
Results: Of the 460 children, 95.7% were fully immunised according to the national immunisation schedule, while the rest were partially immunised. But only 2.6 % of the children had taken any optional vaccines. Majority of the population (78.5%) belonged to lower middle socioeconomic class (Kuppuswamy Class 3). Immunisation status was not significantly related to socioeconomic status as the percentage of children who were fully immunised were equally high in both upper and lower socioeconomic class (p=0.315). Educational status of the father and the mother were significantly related to immunisation status (p<0.001).
Conclusions: The status of immunisation of children in the rural areas of Dakshina Kannada is exceptionally good. With the widespread implementation of the national immunisation program, education plays a significant role in improving the immunisation status of our children.
Key words: Child, Immunisation, Education, Socioeconomic status, Dakshina Kannada.