Assessment of EPI (expanded program of immunization) vaccine coverage in a peri-urban area.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the age-appropriate EPI coverage of under one year old children and Tetanus Toxoid (TT) coverage of their mothers (15-49 years) in peri-urban Karachi and to determine the factors associated with low coverage.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out by utilizing WHO thirty-cluster sampling technique, seven households with infants, were randomly selected per cluster. Child's mother was interviewed by using a structured pre-tested questionnaire, regarding the EPI coverage of her child, her own TT coverage and other demographic and potential risk factors for low vaccination coverage.


RESULTS
Forty five percent of the infants were age-appropriately vaccinated. The TT coverage of mothers for the index pregnancy was 57.3% for both doses of the vaccine. In the multivariate model four factors i.e., type of house construction (proxy indicator of socio-economic status), mother's TT vaccination status, years since marriage and parents' educational status were found to be significantly associated with children's immunization status.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that the EPI coverage of Gadap town, Karachi is quite low. Education of both parents plays a significant role in child's immunization coverage. Improving the educational status of parents can potentially improve the immunization coverage.
Siddiqi
Nazish
N
Department of Epidemiology, Michigan State University, USA.
Khan
Altaf
A
Nisar
Nighat
N
Siddiqi
Azfar-E-Alam
AE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010154:Pakistan; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018881:Suburban Health; D013742:Tetanus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014504:Urban Health