PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 8, No. 3, December 2024
Pages 265-274
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/4202/80.0370
Perceived Barriers and Facilitators of Immunization Uptake among Mothers of Under-5 Children in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State
Friday Onoja1, Roseline Ige2,3, Ifedola Faramade4,5, Ridwan Adegoke3, Adesanmi Idowu3, Adenike Olugbenga-Bello2.3.
1World Health Organization Benue State Field office, Benue State, Nigeria
2Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
3Department of Community Medicine, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.
4Department of Community Medicine, Uniosun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
5Department of Community Medicine, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Childhood immunization is a protective and cost-effective measure against diseases, reducing children’s morbidity and mortality. The study assessed the perceived barriers and facilitators of immunization uptake among mothers of under-5 children in the Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study: data was collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire from 390 respondents recruited using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25 at statistical significance level set at p-value <0.05.
Result: For the majority of respondents (77.7%), the most common barrier to immunization uptake was paying for immunization services, while trust in healthcare services was reported as a major facilitator by the majority of respondents (99.0%).
Conclusion: Overall, most children had good immunization uptake at health facilities located within accessible distance. However, free immunization services and reminders for visits indicated good compliance. It is crucial that the government subsidizes or makes immunization services free.
Keywords:s: Barriers, Facilitators, Immunization uptake, Under-5 children