Determinants of Vaccination Dropout Among Children 12-23 Months Age in North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019

Background: Vaccination is a proven tool in preventing and eradicating childhood infectious diseases. Each year, vaccination averts an estimated 2-3 million deaths from vaccine preventable diseases. Even though immunization coverage is increasing globally, many children in developing countries still dropout vaccination. The objective of this study was to identify determinants of vaccination dropout among children age 12-23 months in North Gondar, North west Ethiopia.

Methods: Community based unmatched case-control study was conducted in north Gondar from March 1-27, 2019 among 366 children age 12-23 months (92 cases and 274 controls). Multistage sampling was used for reaching to the community. Data were collected from mothers who had 12-23 months age children using a pretested structured face to face interview. Data were entered using Epi info v. 7 and exported to SPSS v. 20 for analysis. On multivariable logistic regression variables with P-value <0.05 at 95% CI were considered statistically significant.

Result: Counseling for mothers about vaccination (AOR = 7.2, 95% CI: (2.93-17.5)); fear of vaccine side effects (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI: (1.56-8.12)); PNC attended (AOR = 3.6, 95% CI: (1.52-8.39)) and mothers not received tetanus toxoid vaccination (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: (1.03-5.35)) were found risk factors of vaccination dropout.

Conclusion: Counseling on vaccination, fear of vaccine side effects, PNC attended and mothers' tetanus toxoid vaccination status during ANC visit were found risk factors. Management bodies and health workers need to consider "reaching every community" approach, Counsel every mother at any opportunity, and provide TT vaccination for all pregnant mothers helps to reduce vaccination dropout among children.