Influence of educational level of mothers of grade one children in selected schools in Batticaloa District, on the National Immunization Programme

Abstract

WHO introduced a schedule called National Immunization Program in 1974 with the objectives of vaccinating every child in each and every country, and National Immunization Program is improved and updated under the supervision of GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization) in the purpose is controlling massive outbreaks in effective manner. The immunization coverage in Sri Lanka has increased for all the vaccines currently given in the National Immunization Programme. The objective is to determine the influence of educational level of the mothers toward the adherence to National Immunization schedule on grade one children in three selected schools in Batticaloa. Retrospective cohort study was conducted among mothers of grade one children in selected schools in Batticaloa. We selected 80 mothers by using cluster sampling method and collected data through a self-administered questionnaire. Pattern of vaccination, knowledge on National Immunization Program, attitudes of mothers on National Immunization Program and knowledge and attitudes on AEFI were assessed separately in four major parts in the questionnaire. We had three different scoring systems for Knowledge on National Immunization Program, supporting attitude towards National Immunization Program and knowledge on AEFIs. We analyzed the data through chi square test using SPSS software. Among the 80 participants highest percentage (58.8%) of mothers in study sample were between 31-40age group and least percentage (2.5%) of mothers in study sample were between 18-20 age group. Among our 80 participants we compared knowledge level attitude level between participants who studied up to Advanced level and who studied above Advanced level. When compare to these results, there is a little increase in knowledge about immunization and attitude toward immunization with educational level. But our study only focused in two selected schools in Batticaloa district, we can’t generalize this data to the whole Sri Lanka. There is an increasing trend of knowledge on National immunization program with increase of educational level of the mother, but there is an increasing attitude of mothers towards National immunization program with the change in educational status in our study sample.