Browsing by Author "Shoombe, Taimi Namutenya"

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    Factors associated with Measles-Rubella dropout status among children in Grootfontein district, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2023) Shoombe, Taimi Namutenya; Honore, Mitonga Kabwebwe
    Introduction: The prevention of child mortality through immunization is one of the most cost effective and widely applied public interventions. However, a proportion of children (20%), particularly in Namibia are not fully vaccinated with the recommended vaccines due to unknown reasons. This study aimed to investigate the factors that are associated with the Measles-Rubella immunization dropout in children seeking health care services in Grootfontein district. Methods: A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among randomly selected parents/caretakers of children aged 12-23 months and with a total sample of 300 participants (100 cases and 200 controls). The cases were parents/ caretakers of children who did not receive the first dose of Measles-Rubella immunization and the controls were parents/ caretakers of children who received the first dose of Measles-Rubella immunization. Data was collected and analyzed using Epi info version 7. Logistic regression for bivariate and multivariate analysis on risk factors was carried out to determine the odds ratios at 95% confidence level and significance at a P-value of 0.05. Results: Age of respondents (AOR=2.00, 95%CI=1.5 – 2.6, P-value=0.01); residential address (AOR=2.00, 95%CI=1.0 – 3.4, P-value=0.02); quality services provided (AOR=3.00, 95%CI=1.6 – 8.7, P-value=0.02), education level (AOR=2.00, 95%CI=1.5 – 2.3, P-value=0.02) were statistically significant associated with Measles-Rubella dropout. To reduce immunization dropout, Grootfontein district needs to focus on strengthening health education activities on immunization, create more outreach points to improve access to immunization services, and ensure availability of vaccines at Health facilities