Publication:

Immunization status of 12-23 months children in urban slums of Ahmedabad city, Gujarat, India: a cross sectional study

Background Immunization is one of the most cost effective methods of preventing childhood diseases and needs to be sustained with higher coverage for desired benefits. Objective of the study was to assess immunization coverage in children of 12-23 months of age group in urban slums of Ahmedabad city.

Methods Using the purposive sampling method, a cross sectional community based study was conducted in urban slum area (Vadaj area) of Ahmedabad city during July-November 2014. All 114 children of 12-23 months age group of the area were included after taking verbal informed consent of their parents or guardians. Vaccination status of the children was verified using the Mamta card. In conditions where the Mamta card was not available, the mother/parents were asked about the site of vaccinations to confirm the vaccines being given. Analysis of study was done by using appropriate statistical software.

Results Total 936 households were surveyed. There were 114 children in the 12-23 months age group. Mamta card or immunization record was available with 84 (73.6%) mothers of 12-23 months age group of children. Maximum coverage was seen for BCG (96.5%) followed by pentavalent first dose (90.3%). Measles 1st dose coverage was 81.5%.Overall, 80.7% of the children in the 12-23 months age group were fully immunized while only four children were unimmunized. Dropout rate percentage for pentavalent 1st dose to pentavalent 3rd dose was 4.4% while for pentavalent first dose to measles was 8.8%.

Conclusions Full immunization coverage was 80.7% which was better than the national surveys still the causes for no/partial vaccinations need to be addressed.