PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Abebe, Ayele  Mamo
AU  - Kassaw, Mesfin  Wudu
AU  - Birara, Alemu
TI  - Coverage, Opportunity and Challenges of expanded Program on Immunization among 12-23 Months old Children in Woldia Town, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2018.: mixed cross sectionalstudy.
AID  - 10.1101/479311
DP  - 2018 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 479311
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/11/26/479311.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/11/26/479311.full
AB  - Abstract Background: Each year, Immunization averts an estimated 2-3 million deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and measles. In 2011, nearly 107 million infants (83%) worldwide received at least 3 doses of DTP vaccine; however, approximately 22.4 million failed to receive 3 doses, leaving large numbers of children susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases and death. Nearly 8.4 million received at least 1 DTP dose, but dropped out before completing the 3-dose series. The purpose of this is to assess coverage, opportunity and challenges of EPI among children age 12-23 month in Woldia town, Amhara region, North East Ethiopia. Method: In this mixed community-based cross-sectional study, 389 study subjects were selected by using multi-stage sampling method. Interviewer administered structured questioners was used. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 20 and presented were by table, graph, and percentage. Documented/ recorded file from the qualitative data was transcribed into word narrative. Finally, it was presented by thematic analysis. Result: A total of 389 mothers/caretakers were interviewed. Based on vaccination card and mothers/caretakers’ recall, 385 (99%) of the children took at least a single dose of vaccine. From total children, 4 (1%) were not immunized at all, 44(11.3%) were partially immunized, and 343 (87.7%) were fully immunized. Dropout rate was 9% for BCG to measles, 2.4% for Penta1 to Penta3, 8.3% for penta1 to measles and 1.6% for pcv1 to Pcv3. Qualitative study revealed that workload, shortage of vaccine and non-compliance of mother/care taker for next schedule date was the major challenge faced by health professionals and health extension worker. Conclusion: Vaccination coverage was low compared to the Millennium Development Goals target. It is important to increase and maintain the immunization level to the intended target. Thus the town health office and concerned stakeholders need to work more to improve performance of the expanded program on immunization in this area. Key Words: immunization coverage, Woldia town, children 12-23 months, Ethiopia.