Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective

Introduction: Childhood immunization, a fundamental pillar of public health, has faced renewed challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on vaccination coverage, particularly in rural India, prompts an in-depth investigation of factors playing a pivotal role. Aims and objectiv...

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Main Authors: Aparna Sharma, Shambhavee Singh, Vikram Singh, Priya Arora, Kritika, Suruchi Mishra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Medical Academics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jmaacms.com/doi/JOMA/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-11003-0170
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author Aparna Sharma
Shambhavee Singh
Vikram Singh
Priya Arora
Kritika
Suruchi Mishra
author_facet Aparna Sharma
Shambhavee Singh
Vikram Singh
Priya Arora
Kritika
Suruchi Mishra
author_sort Aparna Sharma
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Childhood immunization, a fundamental pillar of public health, has faced renewed challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on vaccination coverage, particularly in rural India, prompts an in-depth investigation of factors playing a pivotal role. Aims and objectives: To comprehensively understand the vaccination coverage and its determinants influencing routine immunization practices among under-5 children at a Rural Health and Training Center (RHTC) in Delhi. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the immunization clinic of RHTC Najafgarh. A criterion-based purposive sampling technique was used. A total of 140 mothers or female legal guardians were personally interviewed using a predesigned, pretested semistructured and partially open-ended questionnaire. Results: Vaccination coverage rates were high for most vaccines: 98.6% for Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), 92.6% for hepatitis B, and 94.9% for oral polio vaccine (OPV) 0. Education level of mothers, familiarity with the recommended immunization schedule, and mothers considering vaccination important were found to be significantly associated with complete vaccination for age (<i>p</i> = 0.030, 0.042, and 0.05, respectively). Focusing on mothers’ perspectives on vaccination, 99.3% of mothers believed that children should be immunized, 73.6% learned about the next dose of vaccination from healthcare workers, and 90% believed it is important to vaccinate according to the schedule. Conclusion: Enhancing maternal education, addressing logistical challenges, and reinforcing the importance of completing the full vaccination schedule through targeted educational campaigns could further improve vaccination rates.
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spelling doaj-art-29dc0c0bb723404f9288c25970a2ee8f2025-08-20T04:02:27ZengJaypee Brothers Medical PublisherJournal of Medical Academics2581-82792025-06-0181384110.5005/jp-journals-11003-01709Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center PerspectiveAparna Sharma0Shambhavee Singh1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4334-735XVikram Singh2Priya Arora3Kritika4Suruchi Mishra5Department of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, IndiaShambhavee Singh, Department of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India, Phone: +91 8800843744Department of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine, Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, IndiaIntroduction: Childhood immunization, a fundamental pillar of public health, has faced renewed challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact on vaccination coverage, particularly in rural India, prompts an in-depth investigation of factors playing a pivotal role. Aims and objectives: To comprehensively understand the vaccination coverage and its determinants influencing routine immunization practices among under-5 children at a Rural Health and Training Center (RHTC) in Delhi. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the immunization clinic of RHTC Najafgarh. A criterion-based purposive sampling technique was used. A total of 140 mothers or female legal guardians were personally interviewed using a predesigned, pretested semistructured and partially open-ended questionnaire. Results: Vaccination coverage rates were high for most vaccines: 98.6% for Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), 92.6% for hepatitis B, and 94.9% for oral polio vaccine (OPV) 0. Education level of mothers, familiarity with the recommended immunization schedule, and mothers considering vaccination important were found to be significantly associated with complete vaccination for age (<i>p</i> = 0.030, 0.042, and 0.05, respectively). Focusing on mothers’ perspectives on vaccination, 99.3% of mothers believed that children should be immunized, 73.6% learned about the next dose of vaccination from healthcare workers, and 90% believed it is important to vaccinate according to the schedule. Conclusion: Enhancing maternal education, addressing logistical challenges, and reinforcing the importance of completing the full vaccination schedule through targeted educational campaigns could further improve vaccination rates.https://www.jmaacms.com/doi/JOMA/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-11003-0170immunizationmothers' perspectiveunder-5 childrenvaccination
spellingShingle Aparna Sharma
Shambhavee Singh
Vikram Singh
Priya Arora
Kritika
Suruchi Mishra
Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
Journal of Medical Academics
immunization
mothers' perspective
under-5 children
vaccination
title Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
title_full Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
title_fullStr Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
title_short Probing Factors Shaping Childhood Vaccination of Under-5: A Rural Health Center Perspective
title_sort probing factors shaping childhood vaccination of under 5 a rural health center perspective
topic immunization
mothers' perspective
under-5 children
vaccination
url https://www.jmaacms.com/doi/JOMA/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-11003-0170
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