Abstract:
Background: Vaccination is the administration of a substance to stimulate a protective immune
response in human body. It is the most cost effective strategy used for control of life-threatening
infectious diseases. It is a proven tool to avert over 2 million deaths each year. Maternal
knowledge regarding vaccination greatly influences the use of childhood immunization services.Objectives: To assess the factors affecting mothers’ knowledge regarding childhood vaccination
in Kattankudy MOH area and to identify the selected socio-demographic factors which affecting
mothers’ knowledge.Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 377 mothers who were
accompanying children less than 5 years to Maternal and Child Health Clinics. An interviewer
administered questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge of mothers who were selected
by systematic sampling in the randomly selected 4 PHM areas. The level of knowledge was
determined by assigning marks to the correct responses to the questions on knowledge. The data
was analysed using SPSS statistical software package.Results: Mean knowledge score of this study was 57.45%. Among the total population nearly
half of the mothers (55.7%) had good knowledge whereas only 0.3% had poor knowledge.
Although 90.7% knew that vaccines prevent communicable diseases, only 32.1% were aware
about the herd immunity. Level of knowledge was significantly (p<0.05) associated with
educational level of mother and monthly income of the family. Regarding the source of
knowledge on vaccination Public Health Midwife plays the major role (92.0%).Conclusion: The study showed that more than half of the mothers had good knowledge.
Educational level of mother and monthly income of the family were influencing the knowledge
of mothers regarding childhood vaccination.
