ABSTRACT

This study assessed mothers knowledge of infants vaccination schedules in the IWC at Regional Hospital Bamenda North West Region Cameroon. Vaccination is essential for preventing childhood diseases, and adherence to recommended vaccination schedules is critical to building immunity in infants. However, knowledge regarding the schedules can lead to missed vaccination, delayed immunization, and reduced vaccines effectiveness. This study investigates the extent of mothers understanding of infant vaccination, timelines, identifies common misconceptions, and examines factors that may affect adherence to this schedules. A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted targeting mothers with infant 0 to 5 years in the IWC at Regional Hospital Bamenda. Data collection involved structured, questionnaire with sections on demographic information,perception about immunization, knowledge on immunization that is assessing mothers awareness of vaccines schedules, timing of doses and source of information, and challenges encounter during infants immunization such as distance finance, political  instability and fear of side effects. Results showed that 80% of mothers were aware of the recommended vaccination schedule, with the majority understanding the timing of major vaccines like BCG, polio and measles. However, 20% of mothers were either unaware of or confused about the timing of certain vaccines, particularly for newer vaccine such as rotavirus and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Source of information primarily includes healthcare providers( 75%) and (25%) relied on informal sources like family and friends. Social-economic factors such as income and educational backgrounds influence knowledge levels, mothers with higher educational levels or regular access to healthcare information demonstrate better adherence as mothers with easier access we’re more likely to follow the schedule consistently. The study highlights the importance of enhancing mothers understanding of the infants vaccination schedule through targeted educational efforts.

Recommendation includes increasing healthcare providers engagement with mothers to discuss  vaccination schedules at each clinic visit, implementing community base information,anddistributing educational materials. Effort should also be made to improve Health Care accessibility particularly in more remote areas, to minimize missed  doses due to distance. This measures could help reduce knowledge gaps, promote timely vaccination and improve overall health outcomes for infants in the IWC Regional Hospital Bamenda and North West Region as a whole.

Keywords: infant vaccination, maternal knowledge, immunization schedules, IWC Regional Hospital, healthcare access, vaccines adherence

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Before the introduction of routine vaccines, infectious diseases were among the most common causes of mortality in children globally. Administration of vaccines takes place in the form of oral dosage or injection of killed formulations of live attenuated disease producing organisms. Following this, an individual develops or produces antibodies for prevention and active immune development. Immunization is a process through which vaccine stimulated development of the immune system in individuals. Among the medical interventions for the prevention of infectious diseases, immunization is one of the most cost-effective and viable methods. It has been known to prevent Sarah deadly diseases, including meningitis, diphtheria, hepatitis b, measles, mumps, polio, pertussis, rubella, pneumonia, tetanus and retrovirus diarrhea (A Nandi et al, 2020).

According to WHO (2024), Vaccination is one of the most powerful weapons against vaccine preventable infectious diseases, and 6 million of lives are protected every year. However, despite the provision of free health care and readily available vaccines, a significant proportion of children do not receive their childhood vaccines across the globe, and the situation intensifies in developing countries and under-developed countries.

According to National Institutes of Health, Saudi Arabia, a developing country began its immunization program in 1964 and used Bacille Calmette -Guerin (BCG) vaccine which contains tuberculosis (TB) disease. The Expaned Program on Immunization (EPI) was later expanded to include Polio myelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles. The program has been implemented as an essential and integrated element of primary health care (PHC) since 1984. The EPI was introduced to the Saudi population for free on the sponsorship of the ministry of health. According to the ministry of health surveillance data, over all vaccines update is good in Saudi Arabia and has significantly reduced mortality and morbidity among children from the targeted diseases. However, like most countries around the world, Saudi Arabia faces the challenge of an even vaccination update among its population. Additionally, inadequate vaccination is a problem that not only puts the children at risk of contracting these vaccine preventable diseases but also causes substantial humanitarian and economic burden in the long run.

The responsibility to vaccinate children lies with their parents. Therefore, mothers’ perception, knowledge and challenges towards immunization are all of great importance as they drive the action for timely and complete immunization. However, previous studies indicate a lack of knowledge and awareness among southern mothers which contributes to their negative attitude towards childhood immunization. Similarly, another study conducted to assess parents’ immunization knowledge found that 20-40% of the respondents had insufficient knowledge on the topic (M Alabadi et al,2020).

The responsibility of vaccinating children lies with their parents. Therefore, mothres’ knowledge and perceptions towards vaccination are of great importance as it drives their actions for timely and complete immunization. This systematic literature review was conducted to gain a better understanding of mothers’ perceptions, knowledge and challenges regarding childhood immunization in Saudi Arabia.  The Prepaid Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) reporting guidelines were used for this review. Results: Nine studies were subsequently included in this systematic review. Conclusion:  All the individual reports in the literature do not cover the entire nation of Saudi Arabia, indicating the necessity of more comprehensive investigations so that the government and policy makers can develop versatile fact-based policies for the well-being of future generations (M Alabadi et al, 2020).

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Despite the established benefits of childhood immunization, significant gaps exist in parental knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding routine vaccinations, potentially leading to vaccine hesitancy. The researcher is so optimal about immunization rates among children, thus raising concern about preventable disease outbreak; this study urged the researcher to access parents’ knowledge, attitude, and perception of mothers of children 0-5 years old on childhood immunization, to identify key Factors influencing vaccination decisions to improve immunization coverage.

While carrying out an internship study at the Regional Hospital Bamenda, the researcher noticed that mothers/care givers choose which vaccine to be given to their children and which not to be given. Also, the researcher has heard times without number from parents in the Mankon community here in Bamenda of their dettest for vaccination. This became a motivating factor to the researcher and prompted her to carry out a survey on this topic to educate mothers/ care givers on the importance of immunization.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.3.1 GENERAL QUESTIONS

What are the perceptions, knowledge and challenges of mothers of children 0-5 years old on immunization?

1.3.2 SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

How do mothers of babies 0-5 years attending IWC at the Regional Hospital Bamenda perceive the idea of childhood immunization?

-What do mothers at the IWC at Regional Hospital Bamenda understand by childhood immunization?

-What are the challenges encountered by mothers during child vaccination

1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1.4.1 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To assess the perception, knowledge and challenges encountered by mothers on childhood Immunization at Regional Hospital Bamenda.

1.4.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

-To assess the overall knowledge of mothers about childhood immunization.

-To assess mothers’ perception of the idea of childhood immunization

-To identify the challenges encountered by mothers during child vaccination