Abstract:
Background: The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) services have been provided in
Tanzania since 1975. However between 2004 and 2007 coverage of third dose of Diptheria-
Tetanus-Pertussis-Hepatitis (DTP-HB3) dropped from 81% to 47% in Bariadi District. This
study investigated factors associated with the uptake of vaccination services among children
aged 12-23 months in this district.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess uptake of vaccinations among
children and the knowledge of their caretakers on vaccination services. Multistage random
sampling was conducted to select wards, villages and households with children aged 12-24
months. Logistic regression was performed to identify determinants of full vaccination status.
Analysis was done using EpiInfo 3.5.1.
Results: A total of 243 caretakers with their children aged between 12-23 months were studied.
The mean age of the children was 17 months. Out of 243 caretakers, RCH cards for 219 (90.1 %)
children were reviewed. A total of 77 (35.2%) children were vaccinated for oral polio vaccine at
birth; 204 (93.2%) for DTP-HB3, and 180 (82.2%) for measles. One hundred and seventy
children (77.6%) were fully vaccinated. Of 243 caretakers, 174 (7l.6%) knew the purpose of
vaccinations in children, 143 (58.8%) knew at least one of the immunizable diseases in Tanzania,
and 13 (5.3%) knew the vaccination schedule. Logistic regression found caretakers'
understanding of the purpose of vaccination was significantly correlated with full vaccination
status of the child (A OR = 2.80, Cl l.32-5.94, p=O.OI).
Conclusions: The proportion of fully vaccinated children was not optimum, however, uptake of
individual routinely administered antigens was high with the exception of OPV. It is
recommended that community awareness on vaccination and vaccination services is increased to
improve uptake further.
