Predictors to parental knowledge about childhood immunisation/EPI vaccines in two health districts in Cameroon prior to the introduction of 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV-13).
BACKGROUND
Pneumonia is vaccine-preventable, but the increasing death toll resulting from the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa is alarming. Several factors account for vaccine failing to reach every child, besides incomplete vaccine coverage. Most of these include the perceptions of parents/guardians and healthcare providers. Previous studies on the introduction of new vaccines have focused on experimental trials, coverage figures and vaccine efficacy in developed countries. Little is known on the factors which may hinder the implementation process despite the huge challenges this may encounter in developing countries. This study described the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of parents/guardians on pneumonia and immunisations/EPI vaccines; identify predictive parental socio-economic/demographic characteristics that of good knowledge on pneumonia infections, routine EPI vaccines and the PCV-13. Finally, the study described health center personnel perceptions about immunisations.


METHODS
The WHO's immunisation coverage cluster survey design was used, involving parents/guardians (n = 205) of children aged 0-59 months and health centre personnel (n = 13) directly concerned with vaccination activities between July-September 2010 in two health districts in Yaounde, Cameroon. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic models were used to analyse the parental/guardian data while the health personnel data was only analysed descriptively using SPSS version 17.0.


RESULTS
Only 19% of the parents/guardians were aware of the availability of the PCV-13. Logistic modelling identified important associations between parental socio-economic/demographic factors and good knowledge on pneumonia disease burden and prevention.


CONCLUSIONS
According to parents/guardians a short and clear message on the dangers of pneumonia and the need for prevention provided to parents/guardians during sensitisation/out-reach campaigns and use of social network avenues would be primordial, if the PCV-13 is to reach every child.
School of Medicines, University of Tampere, Finland.
John Njuma
JN
Libwea
Expanded Immunisation Programme, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Marie
M
Kobela
National Institute of Health & Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Jukka
J
Ollgren
Expanded Immunisation Programme, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Irene
I
Emah
Expanded Immunisation Programme, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Robert
R
Tchio
National Institute of Health & Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
Hanna
H
Nohynek
D002163:Cameroon; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines
C538862:13-valent pneumococcal vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines
Cameroon; EPI; PCV-13; attitudes; guardians; immunisation; knowledge; new vaccines introduction; parents; pneumonia