IMMUNIZATION

Children under 5 years of age constitute about 20% of the population in developing countries and the provision of adequate health services for this age group represents a challenge for health planners. These children are the vulnerable group for susceptibility to disease, sickness and death. Most childhood illnesses are related to the socioeconomic status of the parents. Their health is fully based on the mother’s knowledge on health measures such as immunization, food and nutrition, childhood care, breast feeding etc. Immunization, one of the simplest and highly cost effective health measures, can prevent different infectious diseases of childhood. Mother’s knowledge on immunization affects the child’s immunization status consequently increasing the health status of the child. Limitations on the immunization knowledge among mothers lead to defaulter and low coverage. It also increases the dropout rate of children. This condition increases the vulnerability of children towards preventable disease increasing the child morbidity and mortality.