title: Immunization coverage among urban and rural children in the Shimla hills.
abstract: A cross sectional study was carried out to assess immunisation coverage among 257 urban and 339 rural children aged 13-36 months who were vaccinated at pulse polio booths in Shimla hills. 84.37% urban children and 57.59% rural children were fully vaccinated. BCG scar was negative in a large number of children, especially from rural areas. Increasing maternal education was associated with complete immunisation. OPV I-III dropouts were 3% among urban children and 15% among rural. The corresponding dropout rates for DPT I-III were 1% and 8% respectively. The immunisation coverage in this region was higher than others. Sustained efforts are required to achieve full immunisation coverage and eradicate polio and measles.
authors.affiliation: Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhadwal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatsayan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D002669:Child Welfare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000592:standards*; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D012423:Rural Health; D014504:Urban Health