Understanding the Caregivers’ Perceptions about Immunizing their Children

Oliver Anyabolu

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Walden University, 100 S Washington Ave #900, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA.

Email: oanyabolu@aol.com

Accepted March 15, 2017

To describe caregivers’ perception of routine immunization of their children ages 24 to 36 months, qualitative interviews with 5 caregivers of fully immunized and 5 of partially and not immunized children in AwbaOfemili, Eastern Nigeria were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The caregivers were classified according to their vaccination status as fully immunized and partial/no immunization. Findings around five themes and five subthemes are presented: (1) perceived access barrier-lack of vaccine ID (2) perceived benefit-availability of vaccine (3) religious perceptions - Christian beliefs (4) mother’s responsibility-lack of support from spouses (5) lack of knowledge. The study concluded that in order to have the children fully vaccinated in the rural areas, the government, traditional leaders, and community leaders should collaborate. Sufficient awareness about immunization be provided to the males and females of the community encouraging them to seek immunization at the appropriate age of the child. Further, promotion of vaccination day should be increased by additional method through churches, market days, and town hall meetings.

Key words: Caregivers, Childhood vaccination, Immunization, Qualitative Study, Nigeria.

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