Assessment of Knowledge and Barriers Regarding Immunization among Parents Visiting the Paediatric OPD

Abstract

“Healthy Children Today Make Healthy Nation Tomorrow” Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Immunization is a proven tool for controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases and is estimated to avert between two and three million deaths each year. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and barriers regarding immunization among parents, to determine association of knowledge regarding immunization among parents with selected sample characteristics. The research approach was non-experimental with descriptive survey design. The final data were collected after getting formal permission from medical superintendent of MMIMS and R. H. purposive sampling technique was used for parents of under five children. The data were collected from 100 parents of under five children by structured knowledge questionnaire. Major findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were mothers (67%) and majority of the parents (46%) were in age group 25–30 years. All (100%) were married. Majority of the parents (23%) were educated upto senior secondary level and majority of parents (57%) were laborer/daily wages/housewives. Majority of the parents (13%) were having two children and majority of the parents (72%) were from Hindu religion. Majority of the parents (58%) were from the joint family and majority of the parents (77%) were from rural area. Majority of parents (56%) were having below average knowledge regarding immunization of children whereas only (1%) parents were having very good knowledge regarding immunization of children whereas (16%) parents were having good knowledge regarding immunization of children whereas (27%) parents were having average knowledge regarding immunization of children. Mean and Standard Deviation for knowledge of parents regarding immunization was 18±3.43. Forty six percent subjects were having no barriers regarding immunization while 54% subjects were having barriers regarding immunization with sample characteristics. There was no significant association of knowledge of parents regarding immunization.