Abstract

IMMUNIZATION STATUS AND PERCEPTION ON THE USE OF OPTIONAL VACCINES BY THE PARENTS OF CHILDREN UNDER 2 YEARS AGE

Ajith Babu*, Ruksana, Parimalakrishnan S. and Chidambaranathan S.

ABSTRACT

Aim: To study the immunization status of children less than 2 years age and perception on the use of optional vaccine by parents. Methodology: An Observational, Cross sectional and Prospective study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at Rajah Muthiah Medical College & Hospital. Study was conducted from November 2014 – April2015. Subjects were enrolled based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria .Subject’s perception was assessed with the questionnaires twice known as pre – intervention and post intervention sessions. Simultaneously the Immunization status of the children for routine and optional vaccination was collected through data collection form and analyzed.Results: The study was conducted on two scale samples, the children for assessing the immunization status and their parents for analyzing their perception on optional vaccine usage which included pre -interventional and post interventional sessions. A total of 75 respondents were enrolled in the study. Out of them 54.6% were male and 45.4 % were female children respectively. The hospitals were cited as the main source of information. The completely (81.4%) and partially immunized (18.6%) for routine vaccines whereas partially immunized (47%) and non – immunized (53%) for optional vaccines. Unawareness was the major reason for partial immunization and non-immunization in routine vaccination (42%) and optional vaccination (79.4%) respectively. Observed that in pre intervention (2.7%) and on post intervention session (70.6%) participants were in favor of optional vaccination.In our study, we found a significance difference between pre intervention and post intervention data (P= <0.001) by the questionnaire designed. Conclusion: Considering the poor immunization and perception of the people revealed in this study, awareness campaigns and programs are required to improve the health status on the society through immunization. This interventional study showed positive impact and enhanced the perception of people on optional vaccination.

Keywords: Optional vaccines, Routine vaccines, Immunization status, Perception.