Factors Affecting Parents on Seeking Basic Immunization Program for Their Children Aged 0-5 Years in Pattani Province

Abstract

The coverage of basic immunization of children aged 0 - 5 years old in Pattani province has been lower than the target set by the World Health Organization. The objective of this study was to identify factors that affect the decision of parents in bringing their children for gettign basic immunization. It was conducted as a cross sectional analytical study. Relevant data were collected by interviewing 540 parents selected by multistage sampling. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics which included frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Inferential analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. It was found that the factors significantly associated with the decision of the parents to seek basic immunization program for their children included a set of predisposing factors such as educational level (uneducated, Adj OR=4.06, 95%CI=1.26-13.11), belief in the effectiveness of immunization (moderated level, Adj OR=2.81, 95%CI=1.77-4.47 and low level Adj OR=4.53, 95%CI=1.86-11.03); and the enabling factors which were the satisfaction with immunization services (unsatisfaction, Adj OR = 5.99, 95%CI=1.18-30.46), unrest situation (unrest is obstacle for getting immunization services, Adj OR=5.78, 95%CI=1.51-22.09), as well as the reinforcing factors such as receiving information or campaign about vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases (never received, Adj OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.76-0.80). It is essential that local public health officers should regularly assess the satisfaction level of parents on immunization services and continuously improve the service system so as to meet the needs of parents in the responsible areas. One important movement is to advocate the judgments of the Thailand’s most senior Islamic spiritual leader which specified that that vaccination does not violate the religious principles. Such information should be widely disseminated through out the networks of religious leaders in the areas.