title: Some aspects of vaccination coverage in the Gelukspan health ward.
abstract: In 1985 and 1986, 210 mothers of children aged 1-2 years were selected from the total population of the Gelukspan health ward. Sampling followed a multistage random procedure. The women and their children were studied in relation to several aspects of primary health care. In this article we report on the vaccination component of the study. The response rate was 100%. By the age of 9 months 30% of the children had completed the basic vaccination schedule and by the age of 12 months this had increased to 65%. Only 4% of the children had all the required immunisations within the time schedule defined by official policy. Completion of the vaccination schedule on time depends mostly on the frequency of contact between children and health workers in under-5 clinics. It is concluded that the main thrust of any vaccination policy should be directed at increasing the frequency of contact between the health services and children during their first 9 months of life.
mesh_terms: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D009035:Mothers; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D011897:Random Allocation; D013019:South Africa; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid