Factors associated with Measles-Rubella dropout status among children in Grootfontein district, Otjozondjupa region, Namibia
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Date
2023
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
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
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Public Health
Keywords
Measles-Rubella, Drop out analysis, Association, Namibia, University of Namibia